Silly questions (probably) about planting bulbs

[Greedygirl]

Hi all

Sorry, I am a novice so please bear with me. I have bought some bulbs and want to plant them in pots. Do they have to stay outside once planted or can they winter in the garage? How often do they have to be watered? Once they have flowered (hopefully!) will they keep flowering each year and what do I have to do to keep them happy?

Thanks in anticipation of someone with more of a clue than me!

Hi greedy girl.
I'm no expert either but I guess a lot depends on the type of bulbs they are and if they should be planted now ( daffs need to be in by end of sept for example) or best left until spring. also if they flower each year will depend if they are annuals or perennials. A lot of established plants don't like the frost and many need to be wrapped or kept in a greenhouse to avoid being killed by the frost. Hope that helps... A bit!

Thanks Chippychop! Mixed bulbs but no daffs, tulips and others and the packet says Oct onwards so think will be OK. Good advice about protecting from frost. Do the bulbs need light then do you think even though they are under the soil - so thick when it comes to gardening!

Personally I'd leave them in a sunny spot, outside and keep them watered,( good check is to see how quickly the soil absorbs the water.) Do you need to keep them pots? The ground will keep them warmer. Don't think they need sunlight but the sun warms the ground which makes them grow. Good on you for having a go

THanks again! Yes need to do pots really as we have no beds and I don't even want to go there yet until I have managed a few pots. I read somewhere you can wrap them in bubble wrap? I might give that a go. Cheers and fingers crossed.

If you keep them in pots they may need feeding once they've flowered once. And remember, the pot will be empty once they have died down. You can put bedding over them, in the pots.