Brighten Your Home with Spring Bulbs

A few potted bulbs will brighten the first days of spring. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths will all make a colorful addition to your home and make you forget any unseasonably cold weather.

Choosing a Location

Once you get your bulbs home, take a minute to think about the best place to put them. Spring bulbs will appreciate being away from the intense light of the sun and are also quite tolerant of cool temperatures.

Accordingly, your bulbs will be happiest in a spot that is well lit but does not receive a lot of direct sun. The flowers will also last longer if you are able to move them into a cooler room at night. The warmer the temperatures in your home, the faster the flowers will go by.

You should also remember to check them for water on an almost daily basis. Indoor bulbs should be kept moist, but not wet.

Transferring to the Garden

After your bulbs have gone by, you can choose to discard them or plant them in the garden. Some types of bulbs will recover from forcing better than others. For example, tulips may not flower again, but daffodils often bounce back very well.

If you want to try to keep your bulbs for another year, you should cut the spent flowers off and continue to water the bulbs until your garden is ready to be worked. After you plant them, allow the foliage to die back naturally. If you cut the foliage off too early the bulb will not have stored enough energy to make it through the winter.

If your transplants don't bloom their first spring in the garden, don't worry. Give them another year and they should come back beautifully.