Plant bulbs for a spring show

Bring a touch of brightness with blooming bulbs in pots at home - indoors and outdoors - and at work.

 Tips and ideas

● Flower bulbs in pots can be bought from garden centres, supermarkets, florists and other retailers. Take them home and re-pot them in any container of your choice

● For instant results buy a flower bulb in full bloom. If you prefer to watch your flower grow or want to enjoy the longest possible bloom time, then select bulbs that are fully formed, but have not yet flowered

● When re-potting, be gentle. Tap out the contents, but keep the bulbs and earth intact to avoid damaging the root. Position the bulbs in a pot 2/3 full of soil with their tops visible

● Putting some loose gravel at the bottom of the new pot will help with drainage.

● Alternatively, if you want to see the bulb's roots growing, shake the soil gently from the roots and place in a glass container with a little water, but no earth. Make sure the ends of the roots lie in the water, but not the bottom of the bulb.

● Flower bulbs in pots last longer away from direct sunlight and heat, so keep them away from sunny areas, radiators and fireplaces

● Flower bulbs need water at frequent intervals but not too much at one time

● As the buds come into flower, provide a fine misting of water now and then to protect the flowers from drying out

● Always plant an uneven number of bulbs in a pot or container as this will result in a prettier look when they bloom.

● Be sure to use good quality potting soil

● Generally speaking, bulbs planted in pots won't be damaged by winter cold as long as you don't plant them too close to the outside of the pot where freezing temperatures can penetrate. If you expect temperatures far below freezing, you can wrap the pots with something like bubble wrap.

● Beware that frost can cause terracotta pots to break. This is because the potting soil in the pot expands when it freezes. You can prevent this by planting the flower bulbs in a plastic pot first and then placing this pot inside the terracotta pot. Once again, make sure excess water can escape

● Hyacinths are famous for their scent so be careful where you place them - they tend to be too overpowering placed where people will be eating so are best for a coffee table, window sill or side display

● Before potting bulbs, place several tea bags (new or used) on top of the drainage layer of pebbles/pottery shards at the bottom of the planter. The tea bags retain water and provide nutrients for the plant.

Information from the International Flower Bulb Centre.

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