How to Keep Forced Bulbs After They Have Bloomed

Daffodils, crocuses, tulips and hyacinths are forced into blooming by savvy gardeners and nursery workers to be given as gifts during the holiday season. Some people choose to simply discard the plants once they are spent, but these bulbs can be planted in the garden, where they will bloom for many years. Given proper care, daffodils are the easiest to move to the garden, followed by crocus and hyacinth. Tulips sometimes fare poorly after being forced, but if you have a small pot or bare patch in the garden, it's certainly worth trying to preserve them.

Instructions

- 1
  Keep the plants actively growing after blooming. Remove the spent blooms quickly to discourage seed formation.
- 2
  Move the plants to a cool, but sunny, location and provide them with liquid fertilizer. Water regularly until foliage yellows, then taper water off over the course of about three weeks.
- 3
  Allow the leaves to die back on their own. Remove the brown foliage before moving the bulbs to a prepared outdoor spot or pot. Allow the bulbs to go dormant.
- 4
  Feed the bulbs in the spring with a liquid fertilizer or a granulated slow-release fertilizer and water regularly. Allow the foliage to green and die back without intervention so the plant can store plenty of food for the winter.

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