I just wanted to share that your results may vary as if they plants don't make enough food this year (which may be doubtful), they won't flower next year.

It may not be as much of a bargain as you think.

However, they should manage to straighten themselves out in a year or two.

They still have their foliage and I planted them in the ground. Why wouldn't they make enough food for next year?

I always plant indoor potted bulbs out in the garden after flowering. That's the same as your planting bulbs from the store which have finished flowering. They grow fine in my experience and certainly both Tete-a-Tete and Hyacinths flower reliably the following year. Paper Whites don't survive the winter here so I don't bother with them. I don't know what Narcissus you have but if they are hardy in your zone I see no reason for them no to flower next year.

Because this years flowers (past now), didn't depend on this years foliage and it's energy output. Thus the conditions of growth for the bulbs for sale (good media, fertilizer, etc) are probably dictated by economics, not good gardening.

They certainly may flower next year, but they also may not. Often forced bulbs do lack in vigor the next year.

I can only go on my experience which is that if they are planted out while still in full leaf they have plenty of time to replenish the bulb and will probably flower next year albeit, as you say, a little less prolifically. However, that is in my climate where the long cool spring means they will have a good 2 months growth in the ground before they start to yellow.

Mind you - 11 bulbs for $10 doesn't strike me as particularly cheap unless they were unusual varieties. I have planted out supermarket Tete a Tetes at 99p for 5 i.e. 5 for $1.50 and I had already enjoyed the flowers indoors.

I meant just under $5, not $10. They were $10 originally. Even if they don't flower next year, I can wait another. The tag said white with pink center. That is all I know.

Hmm, just as an aside, I tried a lot of the older (now) pink trumpets, and they just don't do well in the South. I planted quite an assortment when I was in college, and now 20+ years later, I seldom see *any* blooms on them. Where as, golden trumpet and white with gold trumpet, are blooming away happily as when they were first planted. I don't remember that the pinks did anything much (flower wise) after the first spring.

Bear in mind this would relate to varieties that would now be older, though were current then.

That's so sad. Most of ours are the yellow/golden ones that have been here for ages. I added "ice king" and "replete" in 2013. They are pretty but with all the rain we have had since they started blooming, most of them have been drooping near or on the ground because they are so heavy with their ruffles I suppose. The yellow/golden ones do hold up better.

Hopefully the new ones will do well, but if they do not, it was worth a try. I really do appreciate all the replies. Thanks so much!