They work very well in beds and borders, but if you are short on space, or have heavy soil not ideally suited to their growth, you might also wonder whether you can grow Alliums in pots.
Alliums are unique flowering bulbs that add tons of visual interest to both gardens and containers. Their tall flower stalks seem to hover elegantly over other plants. While they are easy to grow in the ground, alliums can also thrive when planted in pots.
Container gardening with allium allows you to bring these beauties closer and highlight them. It also allows you to move them around your patio, deck, or balcony to catch the eye. With the right care, growing allium in pots is simple. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Choosing the Right Pot for Allium
When selecting a container for allium, opt for a larger, deeper pot. This will provide enough room for the bulbs and their root systems.
Terracotta and ceramic pots work well as they allow airflow and help prevent soggy soil. Their porous material absorbs moisture and releases it back to the roots when needed. Plastic and metal pots will work too but may cause more watering.
Make sure your pot has drainage holes at the bottom. Adequate drainage is crucial to prevent bulbs from rotting. You can add pebbles or mesh over holes to keep soil in.
Where to Position Allium Pots
Alliums thrive best in full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. East-facing locations are ideal, providing gentle morning sun.
Too much hot, intense sun can cause flowers to fade quickly. Similarly, too much shade will prevent flowering altogether. Monitor sunlight exposure and move pots as needed.
When to Plant Allium Bulbs
Spring-blooming allium bulbs require cold dormancy, so late fall is the best planting time. This gives bulbs the chilling period they need to sprout when soil warms in spring.
You can also find allium plants at garden centers in spring. Carefully transplant these into containers. Varieties like ‘Millennium’ can be planted anytime, as they grow from rhizomes.
How Deep to Plant Allium Bulbs
Plant bulbs at a depth 2-3 times their diameter. Large fist-sized bulbs like ‘Globemaster’ need much deeper planting than smaller marblesized bulbs like ‘Drumstick.’
Plant with the flat, hairy bottom down and pointed top up. Space bulbs so they don’t touch each other. Add soil until bulbs are buried at the proper depth.
Caring for Alliums in Pots
Watering
Alliums need evenly moist, well-drained soil. Water bulbs after initial planting. Check soil frequently when actively growing, watering when the top few inches become dry. Drooping foliage indicates under-watering. Take care not to oversaturate, as wet soil causes bulbs to rot.
Fertilizing
Top dress pots with compost or worm castings in early spring. This provides a slow-release feeding as watering dissolves nutrients over time. No other fertilizer is needed.
Handling Fading Foliage
As flowers bloom, bottom foliage will start to yellow and brown. Trim dying leaves or plant shorter alliums and companion plants in front to disguise fading greenery. Moving pots to a less visible spot also works.
Overwintering Care
After flowering finishes, let foliage die back naturally so bulbs can store energy. Leave pots outside over winter in zones 5-9. In zones 3-4, store in an unheated garage or shed, protecting from freezing. Keep soil slightly moist but not drenched.
Choosing Allium Varieties for Containers
While all alliums can grow in pots, some compact types are best suited for containers:
- ‘Drumstick’ – Tiny marblesized bulbs bear egg-shaped burgundy blooms.
- ‘Ostara’ – Short 12″ height but large 4-6″ burgundy flowers.
- ‘Graceful Beauty’ – Dainty 18″ height with white star-shaped blooms.
- ‘Party Balloons’ – Triple-stemmed purple blooms create a built-in arrangement.
Larger varieties like ‘Ambassador’ need bigger pots to accommodate their bulbs and growth habit.
Companion Plants for Allium Containers
Combine alliums with other spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, or hyacinths for a mixed spring container.
Low-growing annuals like pansies, violas, and sweet alyssum disguise aging allium foliage. Their trailing stems spill attractively over pot edges.
For continuous color after bloom, include longer-lasting companion plants like spiky dracaena, decorative grasses, roses, or trellised vines.
Caring for Alliums Year-Round
With the right care, you can enjoy alliums in containers for years:
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Plant bulbs in fall for spring blooms.
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Water regularly when growing and blooming.
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Move pots to a hidden spot after flowering finishes.
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Keep containers outdoors over winter.
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Resume watering in spring as new foliage emerges.
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Divide overcrowded clumps after a few years.
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Fertilize and replenish potting mix annually.
Follow this allium pot care guide for success growing these stunning bulbs! With the right conditions, you’ll have gracefully dancing blooms to enjoy season after season.
Can Alliums Be Grown In Containers?
Like other spring bulbs, Alliums can indeed be great container plants.
You can grow them in pots with little work and effort on your part.
They work especially well in mixed container displays alongside other spring bulbs or lower-growing perennials.
Note that when we talk about Alliums we are usually talking about ornamental Alliums, grown for their attractive flowers which bloom in later spring.
Alliums can also be useful in pest control as they can help to repel, confuse or distract a range of pest species with their pungent scent.
In this role, they can work just as well in containers as they do in the ground in your fruit tree guilds, polycultures, or other sustainable organic garden planting schemes.
While most Alliums can be grown in containers, remember that some will grow much larger and taller than others.
Shorter types tend to be best for container cultivation.
Note that some larger, taller types may need some support, especially if they are not grown in a particularly sheltered location.
Choosing Your Container
Alliums tend to look best when planted in as large a clump or drift as possible.
In a container, you can only grow so many, but choosing as large a container as you can generally be a good idea.
This means that you will be able to plant a sufficient number of bulbs to create a pleasing display.
Also, the larger the container, the easier it will be to maintain your display since larger pots will need less frequent watering.
A larger container will also give you more options when it comes to combining your Alliums with other useful and attractive plants.
I would recommend choosing a container with a depth and width of at least 40-50cm.
“If you haven’t got space for a large pot then you can grow some of the smaller species in smaller pots, such as A. moly, A. neapolitanum and A. amplectens,” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“These have become some of my favourite late spring bulbs and make as much of a statement as the larger flowered Alliums.”
You don’t necessarily need a container this large to grow Alliums alone, but a larger pot will allow you to create the best displays, and, as mentioned above, make your container garden easier to maintain.
Remember, you don’t have to purchase a container.
You can keep costs down and make an eco-friendly choice by reusing or upcycling items that might otherwise have been thrown away.
When choosing a container for Alliums it is important to remember that they thrive in free-draining conditions, so make sure your container has sufficient drainage at the base for excess water to drain away freely.
How To Grow Alliums In Pots With Emily Cupit
FAQ
How do you care for alliums in pots?
Do alliums grow well in containers?
What to do with alliums after flowering in pots?
Can you plant alliums in pots?
A large container planted with a succession of bulbs from early spring to summer would be a stunning and easy decoration for a sunny front door, patio or deck. Alliums are easy to plant in pots. Typically, they are sold in bulb form and need to be planted in the fall with other spring bulbs. All varieties prefer a spot in full sun.
How do you plant alliums in a container?
First, place around 10cm of your growing medium into the bottom of your container, then plant your Alliums. The bulbs should be planted at a depth of around four times the width of the bulb. Depending on the variety, the bulbs should be placed around 10-20cm apart.
Can alliums grow in containers?
Alliums are actually fairly simple to grow in containers. Move forward with the following tips, and you’ll have them growing in containers in no time. It is recommended to plant allium bulbs in late autumn so that they bloom in spring. Allium bulbs are best planted in containers during late autumn for spring blossoms.
How many Allium bulbs can you plant in a pot?
You can plant Allium bulbs in clumps of up to 15 or single bulbs, although this really depends on the type of Alliums and how large the pot actually is. Alliums need full sun in order to grow strong and healthy, so make sure to choose a full sun location even if you grow them in pots as well.