planting flowers in pots....?

Question

i live on long island, ny...want to plant some flowers in huge pots so that they will bloom next season. i have no idea about this stuff. i wanted to plant tulips and alot of the flowers that grow back year after year, an in the same pot flowers that will grow at diff. seasons. can someone help?

what if i started the plant indoors in the house and then when it is warmer bring it outside to bloom

Answer 1

Actually, you can plant anything in a container provided it is the proper size. You can even plant roses and trees in containers if they are large enough. Therefore, just look around and see what you like. You can plant tulips and your favorite perennials together if you like. This process is called layering and works for a variety of different bulbs. Just in case you are not aware of this, Tulips are biennial and will only bloom for two years. However, you can divide them and replant the babies from the mother plant. Since I don't know where you live and what zone you are in, I can't suggest plants for you, but I can suggest that you visit your local garden centers because they only carry plants suitable for your zone. You can look around and see what you like and go from there.

I don't know how I missed the part about you saying that you live on Long Island, because that helps considerably. According to the USDA zone map you are zone 7 which surprises me a little since I'm in OK and we are zone 7. Anyhow, you obviously don't get as cold as I though which means that most perennials wills survive your winters in large containers.
I know this because mine do. So, selecting flowers for your containers just became easier. Just go with what you like.

Good Luck

Answer 2

The trouble with potted plants in zones as cold as yours is this- The average underground temperature is about 52*. Roots are simply not adapted to survive freezing temperatures. So if your pot is above ground and not protected by the constant geothermic heat that keeps them from freezing, they are at severe risk. I'm not saying they will certainly die right away, I'm just saying they will certainly die eventually.
If you really must have potted plants and expect them to survive, your best bet is to dig a hole every Fall and bury the pot. Yeah, I know, who's gonna do THAT, right? Your next safest option would be to just buy a bail of straw and cover the pot with that, then discard the straw in the Spring.
Not the answer you wanted to hear, I know. But it's very true. Sad, but true.

Answer 3

You could plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, etc. Perennials don't really like pot environment, but lots of annuals do well...