Choosing Containers and Bulbs to Plant
You can grow virtually any bulb in containers, and you can mix different types of bulbs together, too. In fact, it’s a lot like growing bulbs in the ground. Start with a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape, and plant your bulbs in the fall. Most spring-blooming bulbs prefer well-drained soil and will rot and die if they stay too wet for too long. If you want to leave your bulbs outdoors all winter, select a large container that will hold enough soil to insulate the bulbs. In the coldest-winter regions, that means a container at least 24 inches in diameter.
How to Plant Spring Bulbs in Pots
Fill your container with a high-quality potting mix (don’t use garden soil) and plant your bulbs as deeply as you would in the ground; for instance, 6 or 7 inches deep for tulips and daffodils, and 4 or 5 inches deep for little bulbs such as crocus and Siberian squill. Water your bulbs well after planting. If you grow bulbs in a container that’s too small to spend the winter outdoors or one that is made from a material such as terra-cotta that needs protection from freezing temperatures, keep the planted bulbs someplace that will stay consistently cold but not below freezing, such as a garage or shed. Don’t bring your bulbs indoors; most homes (even the basements) will be too warm for them to develop properly.
Spring Bulb Planting Partners
Once temperatures begin to warm in spring, you can augment your containers of spring bulbs with cool-season annuals such as lettuce, Swiss chard, pansy, nemesia, or African daisy. Or pack more punch in one pot by mixing types of spring bulbs. Plant your bigger bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, deeper. Cover them with soil, then plant smaller bulbs, such as crocus, grape hyacinth, or snowdrops, directly above them.
