Potting up Bulbs To Welcome Spring’s Return

Between two seasons is a great place to be. Mother nature is pushing the snooze button on Spring this year, and that’s okay. Everyone deserves to ease slowly into a new season of themselves. Despite the snow squalls and the winter storms that bluster their way through every few days, I remain hopeful. For signs of Spring are steadily revealing themselves with each new day. I digress that, creatively speaking, I am in this liminal space between cycles. I’ve spent the last five months in a much needed creative hibernation; resting, listening, incubating, dreaming, allowing my inspiration to churn below the surface. In cadence with the birds and the blooms and the softening soil, my creative spirit is awakening bit by bit. I’m slowly returning too.

I heard it first from a tiny bird on my windowsill, that Winter has come and gone. A storm had raged the evening before, but on this morning the sun rose warm and the birds sang a different tune. I wonder if they’re the first to notice the change of seasons, or if they summon Spring's arrival through song? Not long after this message, I noticed the sun kissing my garden rows before I made my morning coffee - a sight for sore eyes. Then came green grass poking through snow, geese in the sky, snowdrop flowers rising from the earth, and swelling cottonwood buds dancing in chilled air. Winter still clings to the land, for the rain and snow are plentiful, but Spring is here too. We are all dancing between early-morn dreamtime and wakefulness.

Isn’t it funny how we can sense, with such a strong knowing, that there is change afoot in the belly of the earth? It’s the most subtle of signs that notify us of Spring’s return - a change of the light, the smell of the earth, swelling buds, and the chatter of birds. Similar signs of returning reveal themselves within me as I wake from hibernation. My own creative sap flows once more to the tips of my fingers. Before the words arrive though, I get a craving to dip my hands into dank soil and touch things green. That’s where I am on this snowy Spring day, returning to myself in the greenhouse and letting the words bloom. To celebrate this verdant return, I’m up-potting an arrangement of narcissus, hyacinth, and tulips for the Easter table. Join me in the greenhouse, between two seasons, to celebrate this return. 

The Benefits of Bulb Flowers in the Garden

Bulb flowers are some of my most favorite. They’re resilient as hell and a reminder that it’s possible to bloom even when the nastiest of storms rage around us. Bulb flowers provide early color and interest in the landscape against a drab backdrop in addition to being drought tolerant and providing nectar for early-rising pollinators. While it’s too late to plant bulb flowers outside to enjoy this Spring, here’s a spring bulb blooming guide to inspire your potting for indoor arrangements. The best time to plant bulb flowers outside is in the Fall. Use this guide to also understand planting depths so you can get ahead of your fall gardening game and plan for gorgeous outdoor bulb flowers next Spring. I find that the smaller bulb flowers do well in potted arrangements.

Bulb Planting & Blooming Guide

How to Pot Bulbs for a Spring Table Arrangement

Supplies

• Pot; at least 6 inches deep with a drainage hole and catch tray

• Sprouting bulbs

• Decorative moss

• Decorative branches or wood accessories

Tutorial

1. Start by layering a few inches of soil at the bottom of the pot. This is also a good time to add bulb fertilizer to the soil.

2. Remove bulbs from their plastic pots while keeping as much soil around the root ball as possible. Place the bulbs close together in the new pot. Bulbs like to grow in clusters or clumps, so make sure they're very cozy with each other.

3. Layer the remainder of the soil on top of the bulbs and press them into the pot to secure the bulbs in place.

4. Layer decorative moss over the soil, along with other natural accessories, such as a budding branch or pieces of wood, or a faux birds nest, to accessorize your arrangement.

5. Water the arrangement until it drains out the bottom.

A Spring playlist for potting up plants - Listen Here

Sourcing Flowering Bulbs & Pots:

Bulb flowers can be found at most nurseries and grocery store flower sections this time of year. I like to source bulbs that are already sprouting foliage or have a few buds so I can enjoy blooms sooner than later. In this arrangement, I chose three different types of bulbs so I’ll experience a variety of flower colors, heights, shapes, and bloom times over the next few weeks. I’m excited to watch it evolve and change overtime.

Any pot can work for this arrangement, as long as it's deep enough to hold a few inches of soil below the bulb roots. I prefer terracotta because it stores moisture longer and it’s breathable, but feel free to get creative with your pot selection. I also find that buying potting soil isn’t necessary. Potted bulbs usually have enough soil in their plastic pots to fill the transplant pot

How to Care for a Bulb Flower Arrangement

1. Keep the soil consistently moist when flowers are in bloom and afterwards when foliage remains green. After the flowers are spent, the green foliage is still photosynthesizing and storing nutrients in the bulb, so it’s important to continue caring for the plant even if the flowering stage has passed.

2. Place the pot indoors or outdoors a bright location with indirect sunlight.

3. When the blooms fade and the green foliage dies (in about 4-6 weeks), remove the bulbs from the pot, and cut off the foliage. Let bulb root air dry, then place the bulbs into a paper bag to store.

4. Store the bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place through summer, then plant them in the ground in the Fall so you can enjoy the blooms next Spring outside.