Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips
Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.comMelinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.
You received a gift of potted tulips, daffodils, hyacinths or other spring flowering bulbs. But now the flowers have faded and you’re not sure what to do.
The easiest option is to place them in the compost pile. But If you’re like many gardeners you want to try to grow them in your garden.
In that case, remove the spent flower stems and move the container to a sunny window. Keep watering thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are slightly moist and apply a dilute solution of any flowering houseplant fertilizer.
Once the soil warms and the danger of frost has passed, you can plant the bulbs outside in the garden or store them in a cool dark location for summer and plant in fall. Those in milder climates will have to give the bulbs a chill before planting in late fall or winter. It often takes two years before forced bulbs bloom in the garden.
A bit more information: Tulips and hyacinths perform best in sunny areas with well-drained soils. Daffodils will grow in sun or shade and a variety of soil types. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 times the bulb’s height deep and water thoroughly. It may be two years before you have flowers.