How to Grow Tulips in Containers

Growing tulips in containers can prove to be a quick and easy way to liven up your spring garden. All you'll need are a few pots, some potting mix specially formulated for bulbs, and a handful of bulbs for every pot.

When choosing your planters, make sure you choose containers which are deep enough for tulips. Most tulip bulbs should be planted four to eight inches deep, so you'll want to choose containers which are at least 12 inches deep for best results.

Ideally, containers should be ceramic or terra cotta. Plastic containers can overheat, and hold moisture in so well that your bulbs will drown. All containers need to have drainage holes in the bottom. If your container does not have adequate drainage holes, you can try adding them by drilling through the bottom. Use caution, and be sure to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes in case the container shatters.

Before planting, it's a good idea to wash and dry your containers. This will minimize the possibility of spreading diseases from one plant to the next, or continuing a disease problem from last season. If you are particularly concerned about diseases or fungus, wash your containers with a weak bleach solution. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly before adding the soil.

Next, add a layer of gravel or broken pottery to keep your soil from falling through the drainage holes. Make sure your gravel or pottery is clean and sanitized as well.

Fill your container to the level that you will be placing your bulbs—between four and eight inches from the top, depending on the species and size of your tulip bulbs. Add a layer of coarse sand to enhance drainage. Tulips thrive in well drained soil, and they will rot if left too wet.

Place your tulip bulbs with the point facing upwards and the root, or basal, end in the sand. Refer to the planting instructions for your bulbs to determine how far apart to space them. Tulips tend to look best when planted in uneven numbers, between five and fifteen bulbs per pot.

If you're not using bulb specific potting soil, you can sprinkle in some bone meal or blood meal at this point, or the bulb fertilizer of your choice. Be sure to read the package directions for the product you are using, as usage can vary.

Completely fill your container with soil and water well. Store your planted containers in a protected area for the winter, so they don't crack from the cold. In most areas, a garage or a shed will be adequate. If you live in a particularly cold climate, however, you might want to let your tulips overwinter in a basement or root cellar. Where ever you store them, though, you want to make sure the average temperature is below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit for at least eight weeks, or your tulips will not grow in the spring.

Bring your tulip containers out in the late winter, about the time you'd start looking for signs of life from your perennial garden. Tulips in containers look great placed most anywhere in your yard, and they have the advantage of being easily moved when the leaves begin to yellow, so you can focus your attention on the later bloomers in your garden.

More information about growing tulips can be found at TulipCareTips.com.