Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Do you plant summer display into pots containing ex-spring bulbs?

SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
in Problem solving
I have repeating tulips I want to flower well next year. I fed and let the old tulip foliage die back and now the leaves are gone. I would like to hear from people who have planted onto of bulbs - dahlias, petunias, delphinium etc. My concern is that, now the bulbs have no leaves, they might be at risk of rotting with all the watering over the summer. In the ground, it seems they would be fine. I'm not sure why that should be any different in a pot with decent drainage. Have you done this with any success? Thanks?

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I am emptying pots of tulips, I usually plant them somewhere in the garden and have new bulbs for the pots.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I never mix and match bulbs with summer stuff. Just my preference, but yes - it can cause problems with things like tulips, in particular for the reasons you give. You have to keep the planting like for like - so whatever you add to the pot of bulbs has to have the same needs. 
    A pot is always different from the ground, because it has no way of drying out easily if overwatered, and the opposite is also true - no way of accessing moisture if dry. In the ground, there's a balance  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If you can’t plant them in your garden and you want to use your pots for summer displays, it’s probably best to remove the bulbs now and store them in a dry cool place for replanting in November.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


Sign In or Register to comment.