Are the winter blah’s setting in? Today’s timely Tuesday tips are on adding a little color to your living space, by ‘forcing’ flowering bulbs.
This is a cheap project that can offer a sneak peak of spring. I found these instructions years ago in a magazine. I usually do four to five pots. Some I keep while others I give as gifts to friends not feeling well or to someone who has the blues.
(1) Start with a clean, sterile pot. If you want to force the bulbs in soil, use a mixture of 3 parts garden loam, 2 parts peat moss, and 1 part sand.
(2) Fill the pot loosely within an inch of the top. Place the bulbs in the soil with the tip exposed (do not bury the bulb).
(3) Plant the bulbs close together; 6 tulips, 3 hyacinths, 6 daffodils or 15 crocus will fit in a 6-inch pot. Never expose the bulbs to temperatures above 65°; water immediately and never let the soil dry out. There is no need to fertilize as the bulb has all the food energy it needs to produce a single bloom. For the cold treatment the pot should sit in 35° to 48° temperatures in an unheated attic or basement or you can apply the cold treatment by placing the bulbs in the vegetable bin of the refrigerator in a plastic bag with holes cut into it. This treatment is for 2-3 weeks.
- Note: If you store your bulbs outside you can skip the cold treatment. I reuse my bulbs so I don’t need to do this.
(4) After the cold period bring the pot out and place it in a cool sunny location. Try to keep it in 50° -60° temperatures for the first week and gradually move it to a warmer location. The flowers should bloom in 3-4 weeks.
Most craft stores and home supply stores have packaged bulbs for forcing that come with a container specifically for this.
For hyacinths or paper whites, add a layer of stones or gravel to the growing containers, which will be about one inch thick. Arrange bulbs atop gravel layer. As previously stated, hyacinths will also happily grow in hyacinth vases.
For amaryllis bulbs, fill growing container with about one and a half inches of potting soil. Arrange amaryllis bulbs atop the dirt, and then fill the rest of the growing container to just below the highest part of the bulb. Firmly pack soil surrounding the bulb. Once planted, you should be able to see only the top of the bulb (and possibly the start of a green shoot).
If planting crocus, the bulbs should be set in soil and fully covered. Arrange enough potting soil in the base of the growing container so that around one and a half inches of soil sits in the container. Arrange bulbs atop soil, then completely cover bulbs with additional soil.
Some bulbs like hyacinth, narcissus and crocus bulbs can be forced in just water. This makes attractive arrangements in glass vases.
While waiting for my bulbs to bloom I decorate the pots with paper flowers, my kids made. This is a fun inexpensive project to do with kids, Sunday school class, or scout troops.
Have fun bring spring indoors.
