> Next: Forcing Bulbs
Planning for Displays of
Container Bulbs
Colorful Bulbs in Containers
You’ll create colorful containers of bulbs by planting multiple species in a single pot.
Crowd in more plants than you would when planting bulbs outdoors. Layer shallow-depth bulb species over those planted more deeply [see Bulb Planting Depths].
Follow these helpful ideas as you plan your home’s container plantings of spring, summer, and autumn bulbs:
Spring Bulbs
The best spring bulbs for indoor container plantings are anemone, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, and tulip.
Either allow them to bloom naturally, or force them to bloom to your own schedule by chilling the bulbs before you plant them [see: Forcing Bulbs].
Bulbs that have been forced, if kept after their flowers fade, should be transplanted into the garden. It may take several years for them to regain strength and bloom again. Many choose to discard them.
Summer- and Autumn-Blooming Bulbs
Extend the brilliant color of bulbs indoors through summer and into autumn.
Good choices for summer bulb plantings in containers include tuberous begonia, caladium, dwarf dahlia varieties, and lily. For blooms still later in the year, plant autumn crocus, cyclamen, and meadow saffron.
Tips on Displaying Bulbs in Containers
Regardless of the season in which you plant, Choose to mass plants of a single bulb species in a single color, or to a mix several species of varied height. Both make for striking container plantings.
Very tall bulb varieties require lattice, stake, or wire supports to keep them upright. Midsize species grow into layered blooms at several levels when planted in a large, deep container.
Flowers and foliage look best when they stand above their container’s rim and show foliage and flowers at least one-third to one-half the height of the container.
To keep flowers coming in waves, use early and late varieties of the same or different species, layering the bulbs so that the late-flowering species—tulips, for instance—are beneath the early ones—such as grape hyacinth.
Bulbs planted for indoor display are usually held outdoors until they their flower buds emerge. After planting, place their containers in warm indoor locations with filtered sunlight for 2–4 weeks before moving it into a spot that gets full sun.
You’ll find this method allows the bulbs to root fully before they begin to grow, they send up sprouts, and flower stems appear.
Choosing the Right Containers for Bulbs
You’ll find a wide selection available of attractive and functional pots and containers suitable for planting bulbs.
Visit a garden retailer or nursery. Select pots that fit your decor, and vary shapes and sizes for added visual interest. Look beyond these outward appearances, however, when choosing containers for bulbs.
Be sure the containers you choose provide sufficient space for the species they’ll hold. Containers should insulate the soil within from rapid temperature changes. They also must offer ample drainage, while still retaining adequate moisture for the bulbs.
Key Considerations
As you consider containers for your outdoor floral bulb displays, keep these key points in mind:
-
- Size—Bulbs need space for their roots to grow and for soil to support their stems. Always pick large, deep containers that accommodate your bulbs’ needs. Containers should be twice as deep as the recommended planting depth for the bulb species [see: Bulb Planting Depths].
- Porosity—Porous terra cotta allows plant roots to breath, while thin plastic walls block air and may overheat in sunlight. Select containers made of insulating materials. Paint clay pot interiors with breathable latex sealant to avoid salt buildup through evaporation. Place thin-walled planting containers inside insulating, decorative, ceramic pots.
- Drainage—Bulbs require good drainage to avoid fungal diseases. Choose containers with drain holes, or plan to drill them yourself. Use a layer of porous landscape fabric, pea gravel, or pottery shards to keep soil and the bulbs’ roots from clogging the container’s drain holes.