Forcing Spring Flowering Bulbs  

GraciousJaneMarie.com  
Roses, Recipes, Romance

Scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of contents
or click here for our Site Map   Search

Not all bulbs work well being forced.  The packaging should tell you if forcing is recommended.  Some of the better bulbs for forcing are daffodils, crocuses, paper whites, hyacinths and tulips.  Miniature varieties of some bulbs will work better for forcing and may also be more in proportion to the container in which they are grown.

Make sure the bulbs you choose are firm to the touch and have no obvious spots that might be disease.  Choose those that are not sprouting. 

Bulbs need ventilation.  Store them in a paper bag or mesh fruit bag.  Treat your bulbs gently.

Choosing the Pots

Any containers you choose must have good drainage or the bulbs will rot.  Pick pots that will enhance and compliment the colors of the flowers when they bloom. 

Cover the holes in the pot with a coffee filter or close-mesh wire screen to keep the dirt from falling out.  There needs to be at least two inches of dirt under your bulbs while the tops of the bulbs should be almost level with the upper rim of the pot.  Choose pot size accordingly.

How to Plant 

Use pre-packaged potting soil specifically designated for bulbs or mix equal parts sand with compost rich dirt.  The soil should fill the pot to 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the rim.  Plant the bulbs close together root side down and close together in the pot for the greatest impact when blooming.  If you're not sure which end of the bulb is the root end, plant the bulb on its side.  It will have an easier time righting itself. Some bulbs have flat sides.  If this is the case, face the flat side toward the rim of the pot.  Do not pack down the soil.  Water thoroughly.  Label the pot with the kind of bulbs you've planted and when they will be ready to be removed from cold storage.

Don't be afraid to mix and match different bulbs in the same put for a multi-colored bloomfest!

The Big Chill 

If the package in which your bulbs came recommends chilling, it will also tell you how long you need to chill them.  The time can run anywhere from 10 to 17 weeks, so plan ahead.   

The planted bulbs need to be kept in temperatures that average 45˚ to 50˚F. Do not let your bulbs freeze.   If you live where it gets cold, an unheated garage, crawlspace or attic will work.  If you live in warmer climates where winter temperatures are often above 50° F, you may have no choice but the refrigerator.  If you store bulbs in the refrigerator, put them in a separate drawer, away from fruit, which gives off ethylene gas that can prevent bulbs from flowering. 

Bulbs may be chilled before potting.  If you do put bulbs, potted or by themselves, in the refrigerator, be sure and keep the soil slightly damp while they're in the cold.

Sister Nancy has never had a problem with chilling her bulbs.  She recommends starting hyacinth bulbs over water - set the bulb on the top of a narrow-neck container that has been filled with water to within an inch of the top.  Add water periodically. 

November 12, 2003:  Nancy attempted to force a tulip bulb via the water method.  Will it bloom, or will mice eat it since it's going in the garage on a Fortnum and Mason mustard jar that's filling in as a forcing jar?   Stay tuned. 

March 31, 2004:  There is absolutely no sign of green on the bulb.  This method is clearly unreliable.

If you don't have room in the refrigerator or wherever you're planning on storing the potted bulbs, bulbs may be chilled before potting.  If you do put potted bulbs in the refrigerator, be sure and keep the soil slightly damp while they're in the cold.

Should you see roots coming from the drainage holes or sprouts that are a couple of inches high from the tops of the bulbs, it's time for your bulbs to come out of the cold.

Bulbs must stay in the dark.  It may be necessary to cover the pots with paper bags to keep out any light. 

If you're in a hurry, amaryllis and paperwhites come pre-chilled and don't need any more cold storage.  Read the package to be sure. 

Blooming Process 

You don't want to shock your bulbs by taking them from the cold into a warm room, so it's best to place them in a cool spot with indirect light for 7 to 14 days.  Don't forget to water the bulbs.

When the de-chilling time period has elapsed, move your bulbs to a room that has direct sunlight.  As with all plants, rotate them toward the light so they don't get lopsided. 

Once your bulbs begin to flower, relocate them back to a room with indirect light.  This will slow the flowering and make the blooms last longer.

Tips

Most bulbs can only be forced once.  The amaryllis lily is an exception.  After the bulbs have bloomed, plant them outside in the yard as soon as you can.   It may take a couple of years, but hopefully the bulbs will readjust themselves and bloom according to their natural cycle.  You may forget about them, but what a sweet surprise it will be to see their unexpected flowers.  Some bulbs will never even sprout again.  It will be no real loss because they will degrade and eventually turn into natural fertilizer.

Make up several pots at once, but don't begin the chilling process for all of them at one time.  Wait two weeks before putting a second and then a third pot in cold storage.  That way your flowers will bloom one after another, extending the length of blooming time.

↑
What's this?

 

  Contest News

Dare to go Bear