Planting Bulbs in Pots.

Nigel103

Just bought some clearance sale daffodil and tulip bulbs. As I am planting them in pots later than suggested, should I plant them less deep?

Thanks.

Fairygirl

No 

GardenerSuze

Just plant as normal. I agree.

CrankyYankee

I'm hoping it's not rude to piggyback on someone's post, but it's regarding the same topic.  In the autumn I planted tulips & daffodils in pots and put them in my shed to overwinter.  I didn't water them, should I have?  Or should I water them at any point during the winter? 

Fairygirl

I wouldn't worry too much @CrankyYankee, but they don't need protection except in very very serious temps, which you may have had, so just check that first.
Tulips need good drainage, but they need enough moisture to be able to flower, so you might need to look at that depending on the type and when they're due to flower. I have to do the opposite, and keep them protected from serious rain, then bring them out. I just use glass or similar over them. The ones in borders just have to take their chances.

Daffs like more moisture, so I'd get them outside and just keep them sheltered, so that they can get enough. Again, if your temps are still too low for them [although I'd doubt that as both tulips and daffs are very hardy] then make sure they aren't completely dry. 
Always better to plant more deeply too - especially with tulips, which helps with those varying climactic conditions 

JennyJ

I always plant my bulbs in pots to start with, outside on the shelves from an old mini greenhouse, behind the shed where it's a bit sheltered but they do get rain. Most have started to sprout. No need to keep them under cover unless they're a tender variety, as long as the pots have drainage holes. As @Fairygirl said, tulips like drier conditions than most so if you live in a particularly wet area, they might be better with more shelter from the rain.

I just noticed you're in New England, so it might be much colder there than here in the UK - if you think it's better to keep them in the shed, or if that's the normal way over there, then I would water occasionally to keep the compost damp, and make sure they have light when they start to sprout or they'll get drawn and weak.

CrankyYankee

Our temperatures are definitely colder - generally potted plants will freeze solid (and pots usually break), so it's not a common practice here.  This is why I didn't water them, but now I'm wondering if that was a mistake.

The tulips are woodland variety, so hopefully hardy enough to survive my inexperience.  If the temperatures warm again, I might try to get some water into the pots. Thank you!

Fairygirl

Which tulips are they @CrankyYankee? I haven't heard of a woodland type. 
I think you'd need to be getting serious, consistent minus 20 celsius type temps to affect those bulbs, especially daffs. We don't get down to minus 15 here though - further north yes, but not where I am. Spells well below minus 5, etc, but long term wet cold is more of a problem to bulbs.
You may need to find someone in your local area to advise best though 

CrankyYankee

After looking at a global garden zone/plant hardiness map, I think you're right - I need to ask locally.  Where I live the climate is more like Scandinavia or Russia than the UK, which blows my mind.  Your climate is more like the southern US. 

Fairygirl

A lot of the north of Scotland is like Scandinavia @CrankyYankee, because of latitude, although, because of the size, and the Gulf Stream, weather can be more changeable. It's also why west and east Scotland have such different climates. The Cairngorms [NE] are basically Arctic tundra, and the western hills are completely different in every way. 
Even where I am, we're on a similar latitude to parts of Denmark and southern Sweden. 

Good luck though. I'm sure you'll get some local help. I have Canadian relatives [they're slightly east of Vancouver]  but they don't do much gardening nowadays, and they don't use email etc, so it would be hard to ask their advice. 

bertrand-mabel

Our pots have been "emptied" by a squirrel! All bulbs gone. So managed to find (thank you B&M) some reduced tulips to replace. All now planted at the correct depth but covered over with old fridge shelves and bricks to stop the squirrel getting to them.