What You Need to Know About Potted Bulbs That Will Make Your Garden Grow

Did you know that gardening doesn’t have to be a once-a-year activity? If you live in a cold climate, like most of us do, you can actually plant and grow your favorite flowers and plants all year long. When it comes to potted bulbs and making your garden grow all year long, it’s fairly easy. All you need are some pots, soil, light, warmth, water and of course the bulbs themselves. The trick is knowing which ones will sprout again after they frolic in the snow for a few months. Let’s check out what you need to know about potted bulbs so your garden becomes green all year round!

What is a Potted Bulb?

If you look up the word “bulb” in the dictionary, you’ll likely find something like, “a short, thick, underground stem that grows from a bud and is used as a source of food by some plants.” That’s the basic definition of a potted bulb. Bulbs are plants that store energy in their bulbs, making them useful to gardeners who want to plant and grow flowers and vegetables throughout the year. Some bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, are planted in the fall and bloom in the spring, but many other kinds of bulbs can be planted indoors or in containers in the fall, stored in a cool, dry place over the winter, and then brought back outside in the spring.

Decide Which Type of Potted Bulb Will Grow in Winter

When deciding which kind of potted bulb will grow in winter, it’s important to know the difference between a hardy bulb and a tender bulb. Hardy bulbs are the ones that have been genetically modified and designed to withstand cooler temperatures. Some examples of hardy potted bulbs are daffodil, hyacinth, tulip, and grape hyacinth. Tender bulbs cannot withstand cold temperatures, such as anemone, hyacinth, and tulip. If you want to grow a tender potted bulb during the winter, you’ll need to keep it indoors in a warm, sunny place so it can continue to grow and develop.

Start Preparing Your Potted Bulbs Now

If you want to grow potted bulbs in winter, you should start preparing them now. First, you’ll need to select the bulbs you want to grow indoors, such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, or grape hyacinths. You can also choose to grow scilla, Crocus, or Amaryllis belladonna. Note that some of these can be grown outside if your climate is warm enough. After you’ve selected your bulbs, you need to prepare them for winter. The first step is to plant them. If you’re growing them indoors, you can plant them in pots, but you’ll need to water them more often than if they are growing in the ground, especially if you live in a warm climate.

Find the Right Spot for Your Winter Growers

When you find the right spot for your winter growers, you’ll need to make sure it’s sunny enough. If you live in a cooler climate, you may want to consider a south-facing windowsill. If your winters are warm, an east or west-facing windowsill may be sufficient. Another thing you’ll want to consider is temperature. Bulbs will grow best if the temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. You can buy a thermometer to make sure your bulbs are growing in a warm enough environment. If you live in a cooler climate, you may want to look into growing your bulbs indoors or in a greenhouse. If you choose to grow your bulbs indoors, you will probably have to water them daily, so make sure you have easy access to your bulbs so you can water them without any trouble! Potted bulbs

Get Your Potted Plants a Little Light and Heat

If you live in a naturally dark area, you may need to invest in some grow lights. You can also try growing your bulbs near a sunny window, but make sure you have a shade netting to protect them from overheating. If you live in a warmer area, you can grow your bulbs outside in pots. Just make sure you select a pot that will allow the bulb enough room to grow and isn’t too deep, so the bulb doesn’t rot! You can also grow your bulbs in pots in the ground. You’ll just want to make sure you choose a sunny area in your yard that will be easy to access in the spring. In addition to light, you’ll also want to make sure your bulbs get plenty of water. If you live in a drier climate, you may need to water your bulbs daily. If you live in a humid climate, you may only need to water your bulbs once or twice a week.

Taking Care of Your Potted Bulbs While They Grow

There are a few things you can do to take care of your potted bulbs while they grow. First, you can try rotating your pots every few weeks to make sure each bulb gets enough light. Depending on how many bulbs you are growing, this will likely be a daily task. You can also prune your bulbs. You can prune your bulbs as soon as you see the first leaves sprout. If you notice a lot of leaves at the bottom of the bulb but not many at the top, you can cut off the bottom part of the bulb. If the bulb is growing too tall, you can cut the top off. You should also fertilize your bulbs occasionally. Fertilizer should be applied when the leaves first sprout, then again about 6 weeks later. Follow the directions on the fertilizer package for the amount you should use for each bulb.

The Bottom Line

Bulbs are wonderful plants because they can be planted in the fall and bloom in the spring, or they can be planted in the spring and bloom in the fall. In fact, many bulbs can be planted in the fall and then stored in a cool, dry place over the winter before being brought back outside in the spring to finish blooming. If you want to extend the gardening season, try growing some potted bulbs indoors or in pots outside. Just make sure you select the right bulbs and prepare them properly before they’re ready to store away for the winter!

This article is provided by  https://www.bomagardencentre.co.uk/seeds-bulbs