If you need to transplant bulbs, use these tips to safely dig up flower bulbs and replant them in another location—outdoors or indoors when conditions are right. This works for all bulbs including tulips, daffodil, hyacinth, and more.
How to plant bulbs has additional tips for successful flower bulb growing.
Transplanting Bulbs
One of the best kept secrets about flowering bulbs is they can be very forgiving after transplanting.
I’ve moved flowering bulbs within the garden going from one garden bed to another, outdoors from one pot to another, and from outdoors to indoors, and indoors to outdoors, all without any problems.
While there is always some risk to disturbing a happy plant, with the right care, you can move bulbs like tulips, snowdrops, crocus, iris, and lily at any growth stage if the roots are not disturbed.
It’s easier when the plant is not blooming, but, as the old saying goes, the best time to get something done is when you’re holding the spade.
The important thing is to ensure the new location has optimal conditions for that bulb type including right temperature, soil, sun, water, and drainage.
Any bulbs that need a winter chill to trigger blooming, will, as you can guess, still need that chill if it hasn’t happened already.
While these tips are written for bulbs, it’s the same process for the broader group of plants that grow from rhizomes, corms, tubers, and tuberous roots.
Are store-bought bulbs organically grown?
It’s unlikely. If you want flowering bulbs free of systemic pesticide and fungicide residue, find an organic grower. Most of the world’s bulbs are not organic.
When to Transplant Bulbs
When to Transplant
- The best time to transplant is after flowering when the foliage has naturally died back.
- If the plant is actively flowering or about to, transplant following the care tips shown here.
The best time to move bulbs is while they are dormant, long before or after flowering. The reason for this timing is simple: you can’t disrupt blooming if the plant is not in bloom.
That said, you can move them while leafing, budding, or blooming too. The key is to disturb the roots as little possible and be sure to replant the bulb at the correct depth. The recommended depth varies with each species. If it’s a new bulb, check the advice on the tag. If it’s a transplant from the garden, replant it at the same depth it was growing.
The one time to avoid moving bulbs is right after flowering. This is when the flowers die off and the leaves are gathering energy to store in the bulb for the next flowering season. Some flowering bulbs take many weeks for this process. You know it’s done when the leaves brown, dry, wither, and die off.
How to Transplant Bulbs
Moving Bulbs
- Prepare the new location first ensuring it provides growing conditions the bulbs need.
- Carefully dig up bulbs, bringing soil with them to avoid disturbing roots.
- Separate any bulbs that need dividing before replanting.
- Plant at depth recommended for that specific bulb type.
I’ve listed step-by-step instructions below.
As you’ve gathered, it’s all about being careful. Careful not to damage the bulbs, careful not to disturb the roots, and careful to plant in the new location at the best depth and recommended spacing for that bulb type.
This is a favorite way to bring some colorful flowers indoors during late spring—simply by digging up a few extras from the garden.
Want to display pussy willow branches? Use these tips to keep the catkins fresh.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Transplant Bulbs
Equipment
Supplies & Materials
- 1 Flowering Bulbs
Instructions
- Prepare new planting location first ensuring conditions are optimal for the type of bulb.
- To transplant in-ground bulbs, dig several inches around bulb area and carefully remove from soil and plants, much like harvesting potatoes. For potted bulbs, instead of digging, carefully tip everything out, mindful to leave the bulbs and roots as undisturbed as possible.For indoor growing, use fresh potting mix.
- If the bulbs are clumped together, which can mean they are reproducing to create more bulbs, you can either divide them or keep them as they are.
- Plant bulbs in new location at recommended depth for that bulb type.
- Water immediately.
Michele Barrows says
Our local bank digs up and gives away tulip bulbs shortly after they have bloomed. They still have green foliage. I am in Missouri and would love to put them around my house. Just wondering if you think they will bloom before I plant over 100 bulbs! I also don’t know the variety but have seen recommended depths of 8-12 inches. Any suggestions? Thank you!!!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Michele,
Have you asked for transplanting recommendations from the bank? Success will depend on the type and age of the tulips. Also, after blooming, the greenery needs to die back naturally because during that process it is gathering energy to store in the bulb for the next growing season. If the bulbs from the bank have the foliage intact, I would plant the tulips at the same depth with similar sun and soil conditions. If the foliage has been cut off, they may not have what it takes to bloom again–but I’d hope this is not the case, otherwise giving them away seems pointless. 🙂
Sandra Trout says
I received some potted tulips as a gift and they’re done blooming. Do I need to wait until the leaves are brown before I plant it in a sunny spot outside so it will hopefully bloom next spring? Do I need to wait til the threat of frost is over? My plan is to plant the whole thing, dirt and all, level with the top of the soil in the planting location…
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Sandra,
It’s impossible to know – some bulbs have life left in them, others do not — especially when they have been forced for indoor display. Yes, always let the leaves die off before doing anything–they generate the energy for the next blooming cycle, if there is one. You didn’t mention where you live / climate so I don’t know about planting outdoors at this time of year. I would probably store the bulbs in a cool, dark place until fall (after the leaves have withered). Where I live, squirrels would just dig them up outside.
Pamela says
Unfortunately, the gardener I hired planted my gladiolus too shallow and there is no support for the flowers so they fall over and look awful. I’d like to transplant them after they die off this year. I’m not sure that I can get a lot of dirt to go with them, But I’ll try. Can I replant them in the same spot only deeper?
Melissa J. Will says
Yes, if the location suits the plant, fine to re-plant in same place.
Fletcher says
Thank you so much for this. I’m not sure why I cannot get my Agapanthus to bloom again, as it has been 4 years now, but at least I’m pretty sure now that I transplanted correctly. They went from my neighbors front bed where they bloomed every year, to my front bed where I had to move to containers as my beds were flooded. Ever since they look pretty and green, but no flowers. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and keep tending to them. Thanks.
Linda Duncan says
I’m wanting to move my tulips but I wasn’t sure if they were going to be ok. Now, nothing ventured nothing gained. Thank you.
Larissa Reutgen says
I did not know one could transplant bulbs like this from outside to a pot inside.