Re-using last years spring bulbs

araminta74

Last autumn I planted out several terracotta pots and a couple of wall baskets with spring bulbs - a mixture of narcissus, tulip, muscari, crocus, hyacinth and iris. From what I can recall I planted them in a mixture of multi-purpose potting compost with potting grit for drainage. Although I emptied out the baskets at the end of the flowering period I have left most of the pots untouched except for the occasional water. I confess I haven’t fed them. My question is - will they flower again next spring if I leave them in the pots? Or am I better off lifting them and planting them in the garden? I emptied out one of the pots yesterday and the bulbs look healthy but there is a lot of root growth and I’m worried that if I transplant them now the damage to the roots will effect the flowering in spring? Any advice will be gratefully received by this gardening novice.

Slum

Plant into the garden now or leave in the pots - both should work. If left in the pots I'd give them a liquid feed when they've got a bit of growth in the spring.

Pete.8

I was given a plastic pot (about 12" dia. 5" deep) full of daffs in 2014. When flowering has finished I leave the pot on its side under a garden bench and around this time of year I'll turn the pot upright, top up with some fresh compost and replant those bulbs that blackbirds have dug out and leave it on the patio - still looking good this year

Rubytoo

Your pots look great araminta, if you are happy to keep them and don't want the pots for other things. I would keep them and see how they do this coming spring.
I don't keep or do many bulb pots but have started recently, (last year) I have given ours a bit of general feed when they were dying down. But did not keep two pots of Tulips as I thought they might not do well, some types don't flower well again.
But looking at Pete8s daffodil pot I might be following his advice seems they thrive on his regime. 

Pete.8

I read somewhere that daffs can be left indefinitely in pots.
I give them some general purpose liquid feed after flowering and wait until the foliage has died back, then I lay the pot on its side under the bench.
I've just fished it out and here it is - 


I'll top it up with some more JI and grit, leave it under the table (in the pic) over winter and hope for another great display next spring. The bulbs are almost bursting out of the pot now.
The pot looks deeper than it is, it's just 5" high