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Spring flowering bulbs dying foliage- how long to wait?

Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
in Plants
Got these two pots that had a mix of flowers in them, tulips, chionodoxa, anemone de caen.

Save some straggly pansies long past their best and a couple of irises (pretty sure a few haven't appeared!) it's all dying down.

How much do I have to let the foliage die down before I can empty the pots and have something different for summer?
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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Easiest if you decant the lot into another spare container, then keep it dry until all the shoots have gone brown and pull off easily. You can then sort out your bulbs into paper bags and put them in the shed/garage until the autumn. (Well labelled!!)
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Hmm I can try although they're big and heavy so might be a bit tricky.
  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    Either that or plant them where they can't be easily seen and let them die.  Then you take the bulbs up.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    With nice pots like that, it's a good idea to find plastic ones that fit inside, then you can just just change them when you want to, and leave the plants to die down in a corner somewhere.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    That's a great idea, will definitely do that in future, cheers.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I always do the 'insert plastic pot' thing. Saves a lot of hassle, and allows you to change things around more easily. 
    It's more difficult when you have such  a lot of different bulbs in there. It's best to keep plants which like the same conditions together too. Tulips are quite different in their requirements from pansies for example. Irises too - there are several types, so it pays to do a bit of research to get the best medium for them, and therefore get the best display.  Those look like they might be sibiricas [your yellow one] which need moist soil, so they wouldn't be so good in with tulips or the little anemones.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    The yellow one is a Dutch iris too. I've got a load in the ground as well.

    The pansies and tulips displayed really well, the anemones were terrible though, don't think I saw half a dozen plants from a lot of bulbs.

    Is that a sign to get rid of those bulbs or can you get a successful crack of the whip with them on a second attempt?

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The Dutch irises aren't usually very long lasting DH - they need quite sharp drainage and sun. They're mostly used by florists and are generally grown in a protected environment. I have one or two which I kept going for a couple of years or so. Nice when they flower though  :)
    The anemones [de caen types] are  a bit fussy as to conditions. I treat them as annuals here if I grow them. Tulips tend to diminish over time too - unless they're the species types which are quite different. You might want to separate those from the others and grow them separately to see how they do. 
    It's all a bit of a learning curve,  and often just experimenting with various types of plant is the way to go.  Your own climactic conditions are a big factor too.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    These were the bulbs I bought- 

    https://www.yougarden.com/item-p-630050/complete-spring-flowering-bulb-collection

    They're listed as Triumph Tulips. When you say species type Tulips what do you mean?
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Found a couple of pots that fit nicely. I'll buy a couple more still so they're never going to be empty.



    Just to decide what bedding to stick in them just now.
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