Forcing Flowering Bulbs
How Can We Trick Our Flowers To Bloom At Different Times of Year?
Imagine a beautiful pot of fragrant flowers blooming in the middle of winter! Some fall bulbs can be "tricked" into blooming indoors during the winter months. By selecting the right bulb variety and providing favorable conditions, you can enjoy springtime flowers in the colder months. Read on to learn how to force flowering bulbs!
Choosing the Best Bulbs for Forcing
Not all bulbs are suitable for forcing. Popular choices include crocuses, daffodils, grape hyacinths (muscari), hyacinths, paperwhite narcissus, and tulips. Below are some excellent bulb varieties for forcing:
- Daffodils: Dutch Master, Mount Hood, Tête-à-Tête, Carlton, Ice Follies
- Paperwhite Narcissus: Ziva, Inbal (no pre-chilling required)
- Hyacinths: Delft Blue, Jan Bos, Orientalis Mix
- Crocuses: Pickwick, Mammoth Yellow, Large Flowering Mix
- Tulips: Tulip Affaire, Tulip Hemisphere
Choose bulbs that are firm, large for their variety, and free of damage.
Container and Soil Selection
Choose a container that is at least twice as deep as the bulbs and has drainage holes. Pre-chilled hyacinths can be placed in hourglass-shaped vases filled with water. For soil, a well-draining potting mix works well. You can also use a mix of one part garden soil, one part peat, and one part perlite.
Paperwhites can grow in pebbles, marbles, or soil. The bulb itself contains all the nutrients needed for blooming, so no fertilizer is required.
Planting Your Bulbs
Follow these steps for planting your bulbs:
- Fill your container partially with soil and place the bulbs with the blunt end down.
- Set bulbs densely, covering them with soil until just their tips are exposed.
- For crocuses and grape hyacinths, plant about 1 inch below the surface.
- Water thoroughly and prepare for chilling.
Chilling the Bulbs
Potted bulbs need to be chilled at 40-50°F for 12-16 weeks to encourage root growth. Lack of chilling can result in abnormal or absent flowers.
Outdoor Storage
Store pots outdoors in a trench with gravel at the bottom to prevent waterlogging. Cover the pots with straw or a tarp.
Indoor Storage
Use a dark basement or refrigerator for chilling. Ensure the temperature stays between 40-50°F, avoid placing bulbs near fruit (ethylene gas can inhibit growth), and keep the soil moist.
Check root development after 10-12 weeks. If roots and yellow shoots are visible, the bulbs are ready for forcing.
Forcing the Bulbs
Move the pots to a warmer location (50-60°F) with low to medium light for 4-5 days. Once leaves turn green, transfer the pots to a bright, warm spot (60-65°F). Flowers should bloom within 3-4 weeks. To enjoy blooms throughout winter, stagger the forcing process by bringing in pots every 2 weeks.
Enjoy springtime in the middle of winter by forcing bulbs indoors. While these bulbs can’t be forced again the next year, you can try planting them in your garden for blooms in a few seasons.