Colour

Because of the pandemic, we have become more dependent on our individual living environment. We want to enjoy the time we are forced to spend at home as much as possible. No wonder that gardening has become the latest trend. And no, you don’t need a garden to do it! Your balcony or terrace is the perfect spot to surround yourself with greenery. If you plant flower bulbs in pots or planters in autumn, you will have colour on your balcony or terrace starting in early spring.

Cosy

Brighten up a balcony or terrace with cheerful harbingers of spring like grape hyacinths (Muscari), hyacinths (Hyacinthus), daffodils (Narcissus) and tulips (Tulipa). You can do this by enriching your balcony or terrace with a variety of pots and planters. They don’t have to be on the floor, of course. You can make your outdoor space playful and create cosy corners by using raised planters or putting pots on tables.

Planting

Flower bulbs should be planted in autumn, before the frost sets in. Flower bulbs need the cold of winter to show their full potential. Make sure there are holes in the pots and/or planters, to allow excess water to easily drain away.

1. For good drainage, put a layer of old pot shards, hydroponic clay pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot.
2. Scatter a layer of potting compost over the pot shards, hydroponic clay pebbles or gravel.
3. Plant the flower bulbs in the potting compost. You can create a wow effect by planting them close together.
4. Sprinkle another layer of potting compost on top of the flower bulbs and press down firmly.
5. Finish off by watering.
6. When the bulbs start growing in the spring, don’t allow them to dry out. Sufficient moisture stimulates growth development and flowering.

Nice to know:

• Have you heard of so-called lasagne planting in pots and planters? With this method, you plant flower bulbs in layers. Because the layers will flower one by one, you will have flowers on your balcony or terrace for weeks on end.
• If the pot or container is located in a very windy location with shorter flower bulbs such as Crocus, Siberian Squill (Scilla), Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa), Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) or mini-daffodils (Narcissus). They are less likely to blow over because they do not grow as tall.