Tips For Replanting Your Potted Florist Bulbs

Forced flower bulbs are a popular flower arrangement choice for spring holidays, like Easter and Mother's Day. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are the most common varieties. A great thing about these bulbs is that they will often live to flower year after year if you transplant them outdoors. The following tips will help you get the most of these bouquets once they are brought home from the florist.

Tip #1: Keep up the care

Potted bulbs can bloom for several weeks. During this time, the plants need bright light and sufficient moisture so the soil doesn't dry out completely. Once the flowers begin to wilt, cut of the flower heads with clean scissors. The foliage will remain green for several more weeks. If freeze danger is past, you can set the pots outside; otherwise, keep them in a sunny place indoors and water the soil lightly when it begins to dry out. Once the foliage yellows, you can cut it back to ground level.

Tip #2: Prepare to plant

Flowering bulbs need a garden bed that receives full sunlight only in the spring. Bare areas beneath deciduous trees are a great location, since they usually aren't leafed out enough to block sunlight during this season. The soil also needs to drain well, since too much moisture can cause the bulbs to rot. Once you find a likely location, break up the top foot of soil to make planting easier. Mix a bulb fertilizer in with this loose soil, following the application amounts recommended on the package.

Tip #3: Get them in the ground

It's up to you when to plant, but you can do so successfully at any time from when the foliage dies back to early fall. Once you are ready, carefully remove each bulb from the florist pot. Check that there are no soft or rotten spots, since bulbs can't recover from this sort of damage. Finally, plant the bulbs in the ground at a depth of about three times their length and with the pointy end facing upward. Bulbs look good planted in clusters, but don't crowd them too much. Instead, leave several inches between each bulb in the cluster. There's no need water after planting since they won't begin growing until spring. Once planted, all bulbs need is spring fertilization with the bulb fertilizer and the removal of the flowers and leaves each year after they die.

For more flower care tips, contact a company like Aladdin's Florist & Wedding Chapel.