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.
