In containers I use fafard 51 or 52 potting medium (bark based soilless mix very well drained) and add osmocote 14-14-14 four month fertilizer). They like shade and once established lots of water. If you water too much before foliage appears you will rot the bulbs. For best success after foliage appears you can foliage feed with 1/2 strength of any water soluble fertilizer (the blue stuff...peters grow, miracle grow, etc but not bloom booster). We have clay soil here. To amend and prepare beds, the prior fall I lay down about 10 layers of newspaper, top it with 4" of compost and 2" of mulch. When ground temps reach 60 degrees I plant bulbs in the ground and add the osmocote. If you have a really short season and a place inside to start and store plants or a greenhouse, you should definitely plant each bulb in a container in February and when night temps are consistently 60 degrees transplant the plant outside.
