Growing Bulbs Easy and Very Rewarding
Bulbs are well worth planting! There is a vast variety of flowers and colours to choose from and with very little effort you’ll enjoy masses of flowers and gorgeous fragrance.
Bulb planting can start from mid February through to the end of Autumn. Stagger your plantings throughout this period and you will enjoy fabulous colour in your garden from early winter right through to the end of summer.
Flowering bulbs look spectacular planted en-masse under trees, for border plantings and are ideal for pots, containers and hanging baskets …
• It is best to soak Anemones and Ranunculus bulbs overnight in a damp cloth to soften the outside shell so they germinate well.
• Plant bulbs in good fertile, free draining soil.
• As a general rule of thumb bulbs are planted at a depth that is twice the diameter of the bulb.
• Plant bulbs with their roots facing down and point up (except Anemones which are planted point down!).
• If you plan on lifting your bulbs (once the foliage starts to die down), then planting into a bulb basket will make the job easier - Tulips should be lifted each year.
• An extra top dressing of fertiliser before flowering is beneficial.
• Fertilise again once they have finished flowering (this is important for next year’s flowering).
Here at Décor Gardenworld we have a fabulous selection of pots, containers and planters in all shapes sizes and colours to compliment your favourite flowering bulbs and plants.
Bulbs that look particularly stunning in pots, containers or hanging baskets include Daffodils, Freesia, Anemones, Lachenalia, Muscari, Hyacinths and Tulips...
• Select a clean container (ideally with a minimum depth of 12cms) with at least one drainage hole.
• Partially cover the hole to ensure the hole is not blocked.
• Partly fill the pot with Daltons Bulb Mix.
• Place the bulbs so that they do not quite touch each other.
• Cover bulbs with mix and press down to firm, allowing 2cms below the top of the pot and water.
You can create an interesting and stunning display by planting a variety of bulbs in the one pot or container – just plant larger bulbs deeper than smaller ones.
For a really good display make sure that you pack the container with bulbs - for example, a 30cm hanging basket would need to have about 20 Freesia bulbs in it.
Annuals in the top of your pot or container, such as polyanthus, pansies and/or violas do well during the cooler months and your pot will look great for longer (especially good if you are planting Daffodils or Tulips).
An advantage of growing bulbs in pots is that when the display is past its best you can move the pot from view and place another "in season" pot in its place.
• Fill a Hyacinth glass vase with water and place the bulb on top – ensure that the water level is 2-3mm below the bottom of the bulb. A piece of charcoal in the water will help prevent algae growth.
• Place the vase in a cool, dark cupboard for 6-8 weeks.
• Check regularly that the water level remains just under the base of the bulb.
• After 6-8 weeks the roots should have grown into the water (if not, then leave for another 2-3 weeks) and shoots have started.
• You can then bring it out into the house and watch the flowers grow and colour up.
Apply Blitzem or Quash (if you have animals) to control slugs and snails which may munch on the new shoots.
Apply a light dusting of Tui Mite & Mildew Control (Flowers of Sulphur) when planting. Also apply a light dusting on lifted bulbs that are being stored for next season (to prevent fungal problems).
Bulbs can be left in the ground. However, if you are lifting bulbs then store them in a cool, dry, dark and airy place.
Click here to see our How to Guide on bulbs
If in doubt or you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to call or email us for more information – or drop in and see our friendly helpful staff here at Décor Gardenworld in Bethlehem.
Bulb planting can start from mid February through to the end of Autumn. Stagger your plantings throughout this period and you will enjoy fabulous colour in your garden from early winter right through to the end of summer.
Flowering bulbs look spectacular planted en-masse under trees, for border plantings and are ideal for pots, containers and hanging baskets …
PRIOR TO PLANTING:
• If you live in areas where frosts are not common it is essential to chill bulbs in the fridge (in a paper bag) for 5-6 weeks prior to planting (especially Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths).• It is best to soak Anemones and Ranunculus bulbs overnight in a damp cloth to soften the outside shell so they germinate well.
PLANTING:
• Some bulbs grow best in full sun and others semi-shade, so choose your position according to the variety.• Plant bulbs in good fertile, free draining soil.
• As a general rule of thumb bulbs are planted at a depth that is twice the diameter of the bulb.
• Plant bulbs with their roots facing down and point up (except Anemones which are planted point down!).
• If you plan on lifting your bulbs (once the foliage starts to die down), then planting into a bulb basket will make the job easier - Tulips should be lifted each year.
FEED:
• Fertilse with Fiesta Bulb Food at the time of planting, ensuring you mix the fertiliser into the soil at planting depth before placing the bulbs.• An extra top dressing of fertiliser before flowering is beneficial.
• Fertilise again once they have finished flowering (this is important for next year’s flowering).
CONTAINER PLANTING:
Growing bulbs in pots, containers and hanging baskets is easy and spring flowers on a patio, verandah or entranceway make a stunning focal point.Here at Décor Gardenworld we have a fabulous selection of pots, containers and planters in all shapes sizes and colours to compliment your favourite flowering bulbs and plants.
Bulbs that look particularly stunning in pots, containers or hanging baskets include Daffodils, Freesia, Anemones, Lachenalia, Muscari, Hyacinths and Tulips...
• Select a clean container (ideally with a minimum depth of 12cms) with at least one drainage hole.
• Partially cover the hole to ensure the hole is not blocked.
• Partly fill the pot with Daltons Bulb Mix.
• Place the bulbs so that they do not quite touch each other.
• Cover bulbs with mix and press down to firm, allowing 2cms below the top of the pot and water.
You can create an interesting and stunning display by planting a variety of bulbs in the one pot or container – just plant larger bulbs deeper than smaller ones.
For a really good display make sure that you pack the container with bulbs - for example, a 30cm hanging basket would need to have about 20 Freesia bulbs in it.
Annuals in the top of your pot or container, such as polyanthus, pansies and/or violas do well during the cooler months and your pot will look great for longer (especially good if you are planting Daffodils or Tulips).
An advantage of growing bulbs in pots is that when the display is past its best you can move the pot from view and place another "in season" pot in its place.
GROWING HYACINTH IN GLASS VASES:
Hyacinths are amongst the most beautiful and strongly scented spring flowering bulbs and apart from growing in the garden or pots they are also ideal for growing indoors in Hyacinth vases. Children especially like to see the roots gradually fill the vase and then flower.• Fill a Hyacinth glass vase with water and place the bulb on top – ensure that the water level is 2-3mm below the bottom of the bulb. A piece of charcoal in the water will help prevent algae growth.
• Place the vase in a cool, dark cupboard for 6-8 weeks.
• Check regularly that the water level remains just under the base of the bulb.
• After 6-8 weeks the roots should have grown into the water (if not, then leave for another 2-3 weeks) and shoots have started.
• You can then bring it out into the house and watch the flowers grow and colour up.
PESTS AND DISEASES:
Bulbs are relatively pest and disease free.Apply Blitzem or Quash (if you have animals) to control slugs and snails which may munch on the new shoots.
Apply a light dusting of Tui Mite & Mildew Control (Flowers of Sulphur) when planting. Also apply a light dusting on lifted bulbs that are being stored for next season (to prevent fungal problems).
AFTER FLOWERING:
Always allow the foliage to dry and die back naturally after flowering as this puts nutrients back into the bulb for the next year.Bulbs can be left in the ground. However, if you are lifting bulbs then store them in a cool, dry, dark and airy place.
Click here to see our How to Guide on bulbs
If in doubt or you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to call or email us for more information – or drop in and see our friendly helpful staff here at Décor Gardenworld in Bethlehem.
