Spring bulbs faded - what to do with them now?

[Deleted User] · May 2017

Hello All,

I planted a variety of spring flowering bubs in containers.
These have now faded.

I am unsure what to do now? Do I leave the bulbs in the pots? Do I cut them down? Do I remove them?

Help!

Thanks!

hogweed · May 2017

Depends on 2 things:

1. do you need the pots for something else?

2. do you want the same bulbs to grow next year?

If the answer to both is yes, then lift the bulbs out of the pots and lay them down in a corner somewhere to die down. When the foliage dies, in a few weeks, cut it off, dry the bulbs off and put them somewhere cool until October when you plant them again.

If the answer is no to 1 then just leave them for a few weeks until the foliage dies. Follow instructions above

If the answer to no. 2 is no, take them out of the pots and then bin them.

[Deleted User] · May 2017

Ahhh, thanks hogweed.

Yes, I want to keep them so will do just that and dry them off.

What if I just left them in the pot?

Thanks : )

Keenie · May 2017

I grow daffs and tulips in old scruffy pots and use them as cut flowers for the house. when they are done flowering I just cut the flower stems off (of any that didn't get used) feed and water the pots well. I then put the pots behind the shed and when the foliage yellows i clip it off. Around October time the pots get bought out again ready to start again the following year. Hope that helps

Fairygirl · May 2017

I leave all mine in their pots and put them somewhere out of sight - sheltered if they're ones which don't like bad weather. I feed them once or twice, then bring them back out when they start into growth, replacing a good bit of the compost. Pretty much the same as Keenie.

[Deleted User] · May 2017

Thank you everyone, that's most helpful!

Do you just water them once/twice, when they have died?

rosemummy · May 2017

that was helpful info to me too, thanks for asking metalmama and thanks for advice everyone, I have lots of tulips in my front garden some didn't flower, should I dig these up ( v difficult as vv heavily planted) or can I just ignore them and replant next year? thanks in advance

Clarington · May 2017

rosemummy says:
that was helpful info to me too, thanks for asking metalmama and thanks for advice everyone, I have lots of tulips in my front garden some didn't flower, should I dig these up ( v difficult as vv heavily planted) or can I just ignore them and replant next year? thanks in advance
See original post

Rosemummy: its worth considering why they didn't flower first. Are they old or did they suffer a lack of nutrients last year so couldn't build up the energy they needed for a good bloom. You've said its vv heavily planted: could it be that the tulips were the weakest in the fight for good soil and feed?

Either way I'd not bother to dig them up unless you are going for another colour scheme or they will look out of place. I tried digging up tulip bulbs over the space of three years to put them in another area. Each spring digging them out as they appeared and moving them to where they should be.

Three years later this spring I had an absolutely beautiful display.... in the wrong place!

They're sneaky devils.

Just fertilise the place well so that both new and old will get plenty of nutrients.

rosemummy · May 2017

Thanks Clari,yes think they may have some competition..lots of perennials coming up strongly plus we are swamped with spanish bluebells. last year I ended up on a&e after over enthusiastic digging.. have been glyphosating them this year but they are tenacious..thanks, will just plant new over top, maybe I also didn't plant deep enough

Spring bulbs faded - what to do with them now?

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