Growing Bulbs in a Pot Bright spring bulbs can be grown really easily in a pot or container. You can plant more than one type of bulb in each pot for a really lovely show in spring. Bulbs are come into the stores in late summer and are planted by autumn, so you need to plan ahead for beautiful spring flowers and get planting!
Daffodils and tulips are well known and fun, with tulips mostly flowering a little later than daffodils. Hyacinths are big bulbs and you can only fit a few to a pot but they smell just wonderful! Grape hyacinths, or matchsticks, are really easy and fun to grow
How to Plant You'll need a pot, about 20cm (8in) across and a little deeper. Wash and put some broken 'crocks' or large pebbles in the bottom to help the water to drain away easily.
Add about 5-7cm (2-3in) of potting mix over the crock and then place your bulbs in the pot with the roots facing down and the 'pointy' end up. You can pack the bulbs fairly tightly but not touching. If you have different bulbs, plant your large bulbs, e.g. daffodils, cover with potting mix and then a layer of smaller bulbs, again covering with soil.
For instant flowers plant two, maybe three, pansies or polyanthus over the bulbs. You'll have flowers from now right through to spring.
Caring for Your bulbs Water the pot well and put it in a nice sunny place, then wait for the magic to work. Don't forget to water it carefully if it is very dry - a lot of plants growing in a small space all need to drink.
When the bulbs have finished flowering put the pot somewhere shady for next year. Or, even better, as bulbs don't like being potted up for long and stop flowering, ask if you can plant them out (about 10cm [4in] apart) in the garden.
Most of all, enjoy!
More Great Projects for You to Try!
Daffodils are cheerful and really easy to grow!
Resources
Pot 20cm diameter
Crocks/pebbles
Potting mix
Bulbs
Pansy or polyanthus plants
Optional
Fork or Trowel
Watering can
Getting ready - bulbs, potting soil
and a pot
Plant bulbs with the roots facing down, 'pointy' end up
For instant flowers plant pansies or polyanthus over the bulbs
More Great Projects for You to Try!
Pot 20cm diameter
