I'm wondering if it's too warm to start planting tulips and daffodils in pots here in the Pacific Northwest. Daytime temperatures are around 20°C (70°F), and while I know bulbs can naturalize in the ground year-round, I've heard conflicting advice on whether it's safe to pot them now. Also, how moist should the potting mix be? I've added perlite to my bagged potting mix to improve drainage. Any tips would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It's probably best to hold off on planting those bulbs in containers until the nighttime temperatures drop consistently below 50°F. Your perlite mix is a great move though! Bulbs really dislike sitting in soggy soil all winter. I made the mistake of planting tulips too early once, and they came up looking super confused, like they just left a wild gathering!

Thanks for the tip! But why do naturalized bulbs in the ground stay dormant even when it's warm?