Flowers and Bulbs You Can Plant in February

It’s February, so depending on where you live, winter could be blistering cold or mildly cool with a breeze that feels nice. Right now, all that may be on your mind is having a beautiful spring garden — but is it the right time to start planting? Again, it does depend on what part of the country you live in, but there are workarounds if you’re game!

If you live where the winters are pretty mild and the soil is still rather workable, then go ahead and start planting directly into the soil. On the other hand, if you live where the climate is very cold and soaked, or the soil is frozen, you can plant using containers and pots. These can be kept indoors, with the possible use of grow lights, which simulate the sun.

A quick note about grow lights: remember to pay attention to the intensity of the light and the type of plants you are trying to grow, because each plant is different and requires a different level of intensity. 

So what should you plant for a beautiful garden in February? Here are some suggestions:

 

1. 1. Lilies: These are gorgeous flowers! No garden would be complete without the elegant lily. True lilies grow from bulbs, not seeds. They require six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. Lilies that are planted in the shade tend to lean over towards the sunlight and many times do fall over. They need to be fed using a high potassium liquid fertilizer. Other lily varieties include calla lilies and canna lilies, which are especially beautiful. Word of caution: Lilies are poisonous for cats but harmless for dogs. So please be mindful as to not putting your feline in danger by planting lilies — perhaps select one of our other recommendations.

       

      

   2. Petunias: There are two groups of petunias, the Grandiflora, which have large flowers, and the Multiflora, which have smaller flowers and really shine as ground cover in your garden. Petunias are usually treated as annuals even though they are perennials. If you live in an area where your winters are mild, they will sometimes bloom in the winter. It is nature’s surprise. You can plant them indoors in February in pots if you live in colder zones. These flowers are safe for both dogs and cats.

   3. Tulips: They thrive in colder climates, but with the magic of indoors, you need to mimic a winter chill if you decide to plant them in February. It would be best if you put the tulip bulbs in the crisper in a paper bag before planting them. FYI — be sure not to store the bulbs next to your fruits and vegetables, since gases from your produce can kill and destroy them.  Then, you can use planting pots and use regular potting soil, and cover with plastic so the soil won’t dry out. Then place the plant back in your refrigerator. Once it begins to sprout, uncover, water often, and let it chill in the fridge (or place in other cool space or unheated basement) for three months before you take it outdoors or to a sunny window. Tulips are one of the more challenging bulbs to grow in milder climates, but beautiful once you have them.

       

      

      4.  Daisies: The gerbera daisies are bright and love the warm climates. They are also the perfect plant to start growing indoors in those beautiful containers. These are best started from seed; they should be moist but should never stand in water. The flowers come in red, yellow, white, and pink. They look beautiful indoors too.

       

      

      5. Lucky Bamboo Plant: This is a great beginner plant and is beautiful in its simplicity. You can’t deny the wonderful symbolism it carries. Check out these informative videos on growing bamboo from seeds (Part 1 and Part 2). Plant it in February for a prosperous rest of the year! 

       

 

*Note: Since many of our readers live in different parts of the country where weather conditions vary, we focused on giving options on ways to mimic the weather needed so that regardless of where you live, you can plant in February and still have your beautiful spring/summer garden.