How to have flowers like this👇🏻 from a single pot….
Spring bulbs are one of the easiest things to plant and are also the quickest way to ensure that you have a lovely ower show to signal the end of winter.
The only tricky thing about them?
They are often the target of above and below ground creatures who are looking for a winter snack, and they can take up quite a bit of space in the landscape - which means you may be faced with picking and choosing from only a few to grow.
Then of course there may be the obstacle of not having any yard at all, but you’re still wanting that tulips/daodil/(list all the other owering spring bulb here) experience on your patio or porch.
The solution?
Planting a potted bulb lasagna!
Simply put, it's a layered approach to planting bulbs in a pot, with the goal of choosing owers that bloom at slightly dierent times to get the most out of your pot.
They're easy to plant and require next to no care if left outdoors to the elements, and this guide will help you know what you'll need to plant and includes 3 recipes to get your started.
Materials Required
Pots with drainage holes
Clay pots and vintage metal containers with holes nailed into the bottom work beautifully.
Quality potting mix
Black Kow and Coast of Maine are two personal favorite brands readily found .
Grit (the stone kind is what I'm talking about, but the internal kind is helpful, too) and a few medium sized stones
My favorite British growers swear by using horticultural grit to aid in drainage in their pots, but here in the states it's not commonly mentioned. So, you may get a confused look if you ask for help finding it in big box stores. Thankfully since plain horticultural grit is really just ground up stone, you can use basic poultry grit (i.e. crushed granite) to achieve the same results - with the bonus that it's cheaper and easier to find than horticultural grit.
Spring Flowering Bulbs
Tulips, allium, daffodils (narcissus), crocus, snowdrops, fritillaria, hyacinths, and muscari are tried and true favorites for bulb lasagna recipes - and many of those varieties come in a wide range of colors! It's best to choose 3 - 4 varieties of bulbs that bloom at different times - early, mid and late spring.
Suggested recipes
Allium Arctic Snow
Narcissus Ice King
A mix of Fritillaria Meleagris and Allium Moly
Mondial Tulip (or any tulip of your choice)
Hyacinth Gypsy Queen (or any hyacinth of your choice)
A mix of Muscari, Snowdrops, and Allium Azureum
Fritillaria Persica
Darwin Blushing Bride Tulip (or tulip of your choice)
Hyacinth White Pearl
Iris Reticulata + Snowdrops
Steps for Planting
Put a few medium sized stones loosely spaced in the bottom of the pot. This will help ensure water drains freely at the bottom.
Create a mix of compost and grit which you'll use to make your layers.
Put a layer of the above mix into the bottom of the pot.
Place the largest bulbs onto that layer, spacing about 1 inch apart.
Cover with compost.
Place the second largest bulbs in the second layer (with the exception of the
tulip/hyacinth recipes - hyacinth bulbs will be larger than tulips, but since
they're shorter, I put them in the second layer).
Cover with compost.
Place the smallest bulbs on the top layer.
Cover with compost.
Water with a gentle spray or watering can.
Place in a sunny spot that preferably will be moisture from morning dew, rain,
and snow throughout the winter. If you only have a porch, putting it at the edge of the porch should suffice, but be sure to make sure it doesn't stay bone dry for more than a week or two at a time.
If there is concern of squirrels digging in your pots, cover with a layer of bird netting or chicken wire to deter that from happening (but be sure to remove it as soon as you see green shoot start to appear).
Patiently wait for spring blooms and enjoy!