planting tulips and daffodils in pots

Question

If I plant tulips and daffodils in large clay pots, am I able to leave them in the pots outside over the winter (or place them in the garage) and will they return again in the spring?

Ouina · Answer

Tulip bulbs need cold, dark storage 12-16 weeks - but the bulbs cannot freeze. So you can bring the pots into a basement or garage. You have to be sure that the tulips have bloomed and then allowed to continue to grow in a pot so that they can save up enough energy for the overwintering to set the next year's flower. Google tulip and daffodil 'forcing' bulbs and you should be able to find several sources on what to do in your area. Lots of luck!

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Irma it may depend on how deep your pots are and what zone you are in. Michigan varies a bit so be sure of where you are. It looks like you are fairly close to Detroit, which is milder than other parts of Michigan. I think what I would do is, plant some in pots I intend to use and subject others to the 12 weeks of cold. In this part of Canada tulip bulbs can't help but be surrounded by freezing - frost level is below three feet and tulips survive quite nicely. With the experiment you may have tulips in pots, and you will have others to plant in the spring, when the ground is workable, or you can start them indoors in a large round vase like @Teresa D did in this post http://www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/tulip-bulbs/is-this-the-coolest-or-what-139069 - soooo cool but must bulbs must be purchased in the fall. One concern might be if your pots can survive the cold, but you can always cover them to protect them from the weather - garbage bag to protect from water and freezing, other wise they may crack from the varied temperatures and the moisture. Good luck and do let us know how it works out.

Ivylore · Answer

thanks, ladies! I might try planting a few of my bulbs In a big pot and see how they do for next spring. It would be nice to be able to place them in different places in my backyard since I am going to be converting my backyard into a flower garden. Wish me luck!

Douglas Hunt · Answer

It definitely depends on the size of the pot whether you can leave them outside. An unheated garage is probably ideal. Another option would be to pot them up in the fall and then, when it starts to get really cold, bury the pots in mulch for the worst of the winter.

Ivylore · Answer

Thanks, Doug, that sounds like a good idea!

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