Forcing
Bulbs
Flowering bulbs bring color not only into your garden but also
into your living room. There’s more than one way to get
flowering bulbs to bloom earlier than they would outside. The
first of these is known as the home forcing method in which you
provide the flower bulbs with a chilling treatment yourself. This
way, you can have your first harbingers of spring in your home
as early as christmas.
Home forcing:
Flower bulbs for flowering early indoor can be planted in an almost
endless range of pots – ceramic, terracotta, or plastc pots
– even glass jars. What’s more important than the
type of pot – is the amount of room available in which the
roots are to develop. Most bulbs need atleast 3 1/2 inches of
depth. It’s also important that your container allows good
drainage for excess water, such as plenty of drainage holes or
large stones at the bottom of the container. Potting soil is perfect
as a growing medium. For good results, it is absolutely necessary
that the bulbs spend the indicated period (see schedule) in a
cold room that is aproximately 45 degrees farenheit (or cooler).
Although not absolutely necessary, it would be preferable to have
this room dark. If their cooling period is not long enough, the
flower stems will be too short. Too long a cooling period will
result in excessively tall flower stems. After the cooling period,
the bulbs should be brought into a warm room. Once this has been
done it will be another two or three weeks before the plants will
be in full bloom.
Exceptions:
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and Paperwhites (Tazetta narcissi), can
be planted up immediately after purchase. No cooling period is
needed.
Step by step:
1. Choose a pot that is not too small. This way, several bulbs
can be planted. Place some pot shards or stones on the bottom
for better drainage.
2. Partially fill the pot with soil and tamp down lightly. Then
press the bulbs gently into the soil. They can be placed so that
the bulbs almost touch eachother. When planting tulips, place
the flat side of the bulb against the inside of the pot.
3. Fill the pot up with soil so that the noses of the bulbs are
covered. Water the soil generously to encourage rooting.
4. Give the plants the required cold period. As soon as the flower
bud has emerged from the bulb, the pots can be transferred to
a warm location.
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