Hey everyone! I've got tulips, crocuses, and daffodils in pots, and I'm wondering what to do with the bulbs once they've finished flowering. I'm all out of space for spring flowers and am starting to plan for summer plants. The ground here is super boggy, so planting them outside isn't really an option for me. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks!
5 Answers
After my bulbs bloom, I often just throw some annual seeds on top. Right now, I'm watching over two tulips that recently flowered, with some alliums and Californian poppy leaves starting to sprout. It's a mix of different plants, but it works for me!
I repot them into cheap pots until their foliage dies back. I grab those black pots from the store and use them for seasonal bulbs, then I swap them with my summer flowers. Simple and effective!
In my tiny courtyard garden, I usually just cut the tulips right at the base when they've lost their petals and compost the tops. I know it's not ideal since you're supposed to wait for the foliage to die down, but I just don't have the space for all that dying back. I buy new bulbs in the autumn and make the most of the limited space I have for summer planting.
I like to keep mine well-fertilized until the foliage starts to die. Once that's done, I dig them up and store them in a cool shed, then replant them in pots again come autumn. Works like a charm!
I usually just leave mine be. They might not bloom as much over time, but they still produce flowers. Just give them some fertilizer and keep the leaves in the sun. If you're needing the pots, you could plant them deeper and cover with summer plants once the leaves wither. Alternatively, you can dig them up and store them in a cool, dry place away from frost—I've used a cardboard box for mine! Just try not to let them touch to avoid rot, and check on them occasionally.
Good tip on not letting them touch! I didn’t think about that before.
That’s an interesting approach! Out of curiosity, if you're buying new bulbs, why not just let the old ones do their thing?