Growing Daffodils in Pots and Containers

Planting Daffodils In Pots
Planting Daffodils In Pots

One of the easiest of all bulbs to grow in pots and containers are Daffodils, we show you how to do it.

Why not add a little ‘mobile color’ to the spring garden by growing daffodils in containers. We often grow daffodils in containers, just to have some that we can ‘move around’, into a position near the door when they are in flower.

Although you can grow most bulbs in containers, Daffodils are particularly easy, by the time summer comes around they are dormant and do not mind drying out a little, so why not give them a try. They will even flower well on a small balcony.

For care, we turn them out each year as we do plant fairly close together, it also puts on a better display like this

Top Tips.

  • Always use a clean pot to prevent disease, we clean ours even if we are replanting, and we use a fresh soil mixture as well.
  • The experts will mix up a special soil with added perlite to improve drainage. We just use the bagged stuff for all but the species daffodils that we grow, it works well.
  • Miniature Daffodils look great in pots as well.

How to plant Daffodils in Containers

Daffodil 'White Lion' Growing in Container
Daffodil ‘White Lion’ Growing in Container

A 2 gallon container is the minimum size we would suggest.

  • Two thirds fill with soil and you are ready to plant.
  • Now here is the conundrum, logic tells us that around 5 bulbs will be enough, however we want masses of flowers and we are not dealing with ‘rare’ or expensive varieties. So we go for around 10 bulbs.
  • Fill the container to the top with extra soil mix and water in well. We use a liquid seaweed fertiliser and it works well. The bagged soil mix will most likely have fertiliser added so no need to add more at this stage.
  • Get the soil in the pot moist, not wet.
  • You should find you have a mass of flowers in spring. And what are we planting in this pot ? Daffodil ‘White Lion’ a bit of a favourite.

For even more Flowers

If you are really trying to fill the container you can ‘double layer’, the first at half pot depth the second at 2/3rds.

After care for pot grown Daffodils.

Once the flowers are finished, and we mean the foliage has died back, it’s time for ‘no more water’ so place in a sunny position under cover, or turn it on its side. If you live in a zone where you will get winter freezes, you will need to put then under cover.

In spring, bring them out again, if you are diligent you will repot them, if not, they can probably go another year without too many problems.