The Great Big Bulb Dig

Take home a little piece of the Floriade magic!

Floriade lovers will be able to take home a little piece of the magic this year when they take part in The Great Big Bulb Dig. The Bulb Dig will be held at Commonwealth Park on Monday 14 October, the day after Floriade closes its gates for 2024.

All funds raised from the Great Big Bulb Dig will go to the two charities selected by our presenting partner, Synergy Group. This year Bulb Dig bag sales will again support Roundabout Canberra and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

To gain access to the Bulb Dig visitors must purchase a Floriade Art in Bloom Great Big Bulb Dig bag from the Floriade Shop, the on-site Information Tent, the Synergy Group Kombi van, or the charity marquees during Floriade.

Bags will also be on sale at the gate on the day of the Great Big Bulb Dig should any bags remain unsold during Floriade.

There is no limit on the number of bags you can buy – MORE BAGS = MORE BULBS!

NEW THIS YEAR – VIP BAGS!

This year, we’re offering an exclusive VIP Great Big Bulb Dig bag for $30 alongside our standard option which cost $15. The VIP Navy Blue bag not only grants you early access to the event at 10am but also comes in an extra-large size, allowing you to collect more bulbs and further support the chosen charities. Don’t miss out – VIP bags are in limited supply! Regular bag entry will be available from 11am.

How do I take part in The Great Big Bulb Dig? 

To participate in the Great Big Bulb Dig, simply purchase your 2024 Art in Bloom bag (or bags!) from the Floriade Shop, the on-site Information Tent, the Synergy Group Kombi van, or the charity marquees during Floriade. Bags will also be on sale at the gate on the day of the Great Big Bulb Dig. Your bag serves as your entry ticket to the Bulb Dig, and only those carrying a 2024 bulb dig bag will be allowed to enter.

Please note that only the official 2024 bulb dig bags can be used to collect bulbs – no previous bulb dig bags or plastic bags are permitted. The good news is that there is no limit to how many bags you can buy, so the more bags you have the more bulbs you can take home!

There are two types of bags available: VIP bags for $30 and regular bags for $15. The VIP bag grants you early access to the event at 10am and is also an extra-large size, allowing you to collect more bulbs and support the chosen charities. Don’t miss out—VIP bags are in limited supply! Regular bag entry will be available from 11am.

Not only do bulb dig attendees have the chance to recreate a mini-Floriade at home next spring, but they will also be supporting local charities. All profits from bag sales will go to Roundabout Canberra and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, the charities nominated by our presenting partner, Synergy Group,

Only a limited number of branded Synergy Group Bulb Dig bags will be available, so get in quickly! Just remember, you must have a bulb dig bag to gain entry, and only these bags can be used to collect bulbs.

Lastly, please be considerate of other participants. With are over half a million bulbs in the park, there’s plenty to go around!

What should I wear?

As you’ll be digging and using garden tools we encourage Great Big Bulb Dig participants to wear closed toe shoes for your own safety. 

What equipment can I bring with me to the Great Big Bulb Dig? 

Bulb dig participants can only collect as many bulbs as will fit in their Great Big Bulb Dig bag. If you’d like to collect more bulbs, you will be able to buy more bags on site. 

Please be aware that the following items are not permitted on-site:

• Trailers 
• Wheelbarrows 
• Garden carts 
• Buckets 
• Additional bags which are not Great Big Bulb Dig bags 

If you have purchased a large number of bags, or you have a mobility or other capacity issue, you may be able to bring something to carry your bulbs. This will be assessed by Floriade event management on a case-by-case basis. 

Participants are welcome to bring tools to help with digging their bulbs. We recommend using full-sized tools. Acceptable tools include, but are not limited to: 

• Shovels 
• Garden forks 
• Secateurs 

What are the rules of participating in the Great Big Bulb Dig? 

To ensure a positive experience for everyone, please be considerate of other participants. Any rude, pushy, or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, and individuals may be asked to leave if they do not adhere to the following guidelines:

• Follow all directions from staff regarding safety and security.
• Do not pose a threat to public safety or damage to the event site.
• Conduct yourself politely and courteously towards staff, volunteers, and fellow participants. Disruptive, drunken, disorderly, or improper behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Avoid causing any nuisance to other participating in the event or to the surrounding community.  

Management reserves the right to refuse entry to or evict anyone who does not comply with these rules.

What happens if it’s raining?

The event will proceed in all weather unless it is deemed to be unsafe by Events ACT for participants to be in the venue and/or participating in the activity 

Should the event be cancelled there will be no refunds or compensation. The money collected from the sale of the bags will go the nominated charities. 

How do I dig the bulbs and care for them? 

Hints on Bulb Digging 

1. Locate the bulb you’d like to dig up by leaves sticking up out of the ground.  

2. Carefully dig around those leaves 15cm deep to dig up the bulb. Do your best to dig up the roots, bulb and leaves without breaking or damaging them. Damaging the leaves can prevent the bulb from flowering properly next year. 

3. Keep what remaining flowers there are so you can tell what colour they are when you get home.  

What to do next with your bulbs 

If you live in Canberra or in a cool climate with frosts: 

1. Once you get home, plant them straight into the ground, where you want the flowers to be next spring, at 8cm deep and water them in. This can be in the garden or in pots. Bulbs want to keep growing with their green leaves until late November. During that time, they are storing energy and growing next year’s flower inside.  

2. Once they brown off naturally by December, trim off the dead leaves. 

3. Now play the waiting game until spring next year and you will have beautiful flowers in your garden! 

If you live in a warmer climate with no frosts: 

1. Once you get home, plant them again 8cm deep in the garden or in pots and water them in. The leaves will keep green until late November as the bulb keeps storing energy and growing next year’s flower.  

2. Once the leaves have browned off, cut them off and dig up the bulbs.  

3. Store them clean with no soil or potting mix on them in a dry cool location like you would your brown onions or garlic. 

4. Next autumn put them in the fridge on the 1st of May for four weeks. This cold temperature will bring the bulb out of dormancy.  

5. Plant your bulbs 8cm in the garden or in pots and water them in.  

6. Once planted you can plant winter annuals over the top of them. Water them once or twice a week until spring.  

Which charities are being supported?

All funds raised from the sale of the Great Big Bulb Dig bags go to the two charities selected by our presenting partner, Synergy Group. This year Bulb Dig bag sales will support Roundabout Canberra and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

Roundabout Canberra provides safe, high quality essential baby and children’s items to families in need through their network of community and not-for-profit organisations.

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation is a health promotion charity that uses running to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement, and to create inspirational Indigenous leaders.

Event Info

• When: Monday 14 October, 11:00am – 6:00pm
• Where: Floriade, Commonwealth Park
• Tickets: $15 includes a standard Bulb Dig Bag, which is your entry ticket to the Bulb Dig at 11:00am
• VIP Tickets: $30 includes a larger Bulb Dig Bag and 10:00am entry to the Bulb Dig (strictly limited capacity)

You can purchase Bulb Dig Bags on site at Floriade from the Floriade Shop, Information Tent, the Synergy Group Kombi van, or the charity marquees during Floriade.

If there are any bags left from Floriade, they will be available for purchase at the gate on the day of the Great Big Bulb Dig.