Should I Leave Tulip Bulbs in Pots or Lift Them?

Should I Leave Tulip Bulbs in Pots or Lift Them?

Is it better to leave tulip bulbs alone or dig them up and transfer them? Mine are in a pot and were spectacular and I want to add more.

If your tulips gave a spectacular display last year, you can leave them in the pot for at least the next one to two years. 

After that time it is best to repot them into  a larger container with Daltons Premium Bulb Mix. The best time to do this is in autumn when most spring bulbs are planted.

For healthy, vigorous blooms, apply a light side dressing of Daltons Premium Bulb Fertiliser in early spring while plants are actively growing. 

Growing tulips in the garden

If you want to grow tulips in the garden, plant them in a well lit position that has good drainage and let them naturalise. This means letting them remain in the ground and multiply over a period of time. 

It is a good idea to mark or label where they are planted so they are not damaged or accidently dug up when gardening later on.

Read our How to Grow Bulbs Guide for more tips, advice and varieties to grow.

Guides
All Gardening Guides
Topic

More like this

Should I Lift Bulbs Every Year or Leave Them in the Ground?
Should you lift your bulbs every year or can you leave them in?
Let lilies die back after flowering
Should I leave the stems of lilies uncut or tied after flowering (as we do with daffodil leaves) or cut them down? If we were to cut them down, how far from the ground? Would this apply to all lilies?
Growing Grapes
I have a grapevine that has heaps of green leaves, but I can’t seem to get any grapes to grow. I think I found a tiny bunch that were underdeveloped and sour. Do you have any good tips to change this or should I just remove it?
Peach Tree Leaf Curling
My nectarine and peach trees have recently begun to develop leaf curl. I have cut off some of the worst branches but new growth still has leaf curl. What should I do to prevent this?
Mildew on Gooseberries
How is mildew prevented on gooseberries?
Grape development
Our established black grape produces a lot of large leaves and cane growth. Pollination and fruit development is slow. How much leaf and cane pruning and at what stage should it be done?
Why Are My Daffodils All Leaves and No Flowers?
My daffodil bulbs have all sprouted but none of them have a flower - they look like big spring onions! What’s gone wrong?
Why Have My Daffodils Stopped Flowering?
My clumps of daffodils have stopped flowering or much reduced, despite receiving bulb fertiliser. What could be the problem?
Pruning Grape Vines
What time of year do I prune my grapevine (it is about 3 years old). How far back do I prune it?
Leaves Dropping off Meyer Lemon Tree
My Meyer lemon tree has lost most of it leaves, but has plenty of flowers. In June, I put compost around the top. What else should I add to give it a big boost?
Fruit Tree Pests
My apple tree is growing but has insects inside the fruit. I found a black spot outside and after cutting, found an insect-like tunnel inside. Also, my peach tree this year has had little growth. Now the leaves have small holes and fruit is not growing. I’ve already cut down two peach trees and sprayed both trees with copper spray in winter but this did not stop the insects in my apple tree.
Blueberry plant dropping leaves
My blueberry bush has lost most of its leaves. The fruit and flowers are still on the bush! Will this affect the fruit as it ripens? The bush is in a planter box and gets sun.