Bulbs are perfect in pots to decorate a sunny patio, entrance or court
yard. Because theyre portable they can be moved to brighten up an otherwise
dull spot. When they are in full flower they can be brought indoors
for a few days so your friends can gasp at your gardening prowess.
 What
type of pot?
Once you decide which bulbs you want to grow (see symbol in catalogue
for appropriate varieties) your first job will be to make a suitable
pot selection. Bulbs need space for healthy roots to grow so choose
a pot at least 15-20cm high as a minimum. Try and avoid black plastic
pots or other heat absorbing materials. Spring flowering bulbs grow
best in cool winter climates and will not appreciate being in a pot
that over heats the soil every time the sun comes out. In this way,
larger pots are best especially in light coloured materials or natural
terracotta. Make sure the pots have a hole in the base as bulbs must
remain well drained.
What type of soil?
Use a good quality potting mix with added fertiliser. Most stores
now sell mix made to the Australian standard.
How many bulbs do I need?
Bulbs look best in pots planted fairly close together, so dont be
scared to crowd the pot a little. As a rough guide follow the table
below for a brilliant display.
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Variety
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Bulbs
to fill 15cm pot
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Bulbs to fill
30cm pot
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Bulbs
to fill 40cm pot
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Hyacinth
|
3
|
8
|
12
|
|
Tulip
|
4
|
10
|
15
|
|
Daffodil
|
4
|
10
|
15
|
|
Jonquil
|
4
|
10
|
15
|
|
Dutch Iris
|
4
|
10
|
15
|
|
Muscari
|
15
|
35
|
55
|
|
Spring Star
|
15
|
35
|
55
|
|
Freesia
|
8
|
20
|
30
|
|
Bluebells
|
5
|
12
|
18
|
|
|
 How
do I plant them?
As a general rule plant large bulbs such as hyacinth, daffodil and
tulip with about 10cm of soil on top of the bulb. Plant small bulbs
such as muscari, tritelia and freesia about half that depth. Top up
the mix after the first watering as necessary.
What position is best?
For the first few weeks keep the soil damp and place the pot in
the shade. This will allow a healthy root system to develop in cool
ground. Once the first shoots appear above the soil, move the pots into
a sunny position. Remember pots do not hold moisture like a garden bed
so regular watering will be important.
Can I grow different varieties together?
A final word of advice. When starting out, grow one variety and
one colour to each pot. This will ensure a huge display of colour at
flowering time. Different species and even different varieties within
one species will often flower at varying times, giving a display without
much impact.
Do I need to fertilise the bulbs in pots?
In much the same way as bulbs in the ground benefit from fertilising,
bulbs in pots benefit from fertilising not so much for the current year's
flowers but for building up the bulb for next year's flowers. This is
particularly important for pots as the bulb's root system and hence
its ability to feed, is generally more restricted in a pot. Feeding
the bulbs after flowering, removing spent flowers and allowing the leaves
to die down naturally is even more important for bulbs in pots. The
advantage of pots is that you can move them out of sight whilst they
die down.
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