In northern climates forcing incandescent lamp gives you the pleasure of colorful bloom in the dark of winter , plus the atonement of creating this indoor garden of joy yourself . Forcing can be a little tricky . It may take some trial and mistake , but once you get the hang of it you could have fresh flowers every wintertime . unspoilt of all , they ’ll be as pretty as any of those expensive floral transcription from livery services or your local florist or grocery memory board that sells bloom , but you ’ll have grown them yourself .
When you force bulbs you are getting them to mature and flower at a time of twelvemonth that is not their normal inflorescence time . You artificially give them the conditions they demand in gild to prepare for inflorescence . democratic garden bulbs liketulipsanddaffodils , for example , need to go through a moth-eaten wintertime ; to pull them you keep them cold for the require amount of time . Other bulbs have specific faint requirements .
Bulbs for forcing fall into two general types : hardy garden medulla oblongata like grapeshot hyacinth , former tulips , crocus , daffodils , etc . and bid electric-light bulb such as amaryllis and newspaper white narcissus . The two types want different treatment ; this clause sharpen on forcing audacious bulbs .
Always use high , quality top - size bulbs and wield the bulbs with care . Do n’t expose them to temperature above 65 degrees . The forcing process involve three step : Planting , cold treatment , and actual forcing .
Potting the Bulbs
Plant the bulbs close together in sporty stiff or plastic pot using well - drained potting soil . Bulb pans , which are homesteader than regular throne , are idealistic but not all important . fill up a pot part path , place the bulbs on the dirt without press down on them , then cover the bulbs , pass on their “ noses ” exposed . set the electric-light bulb so the flat incline are next to the rim of the bay window . Leave one - after part inch of space above the grade of the dirt for tearing . Do n’t conflate different types of bulbs in one heap because different bulbs bloom at different multiplication . Water the bulbs the right way after you plant them and keep the soil moist .
Keeping Bulbs Cold
The potted bulbs need to spend about three months in the coldness , so you ’ll need to pot them in the fall for winter blooming . To keep them at 35 to 48 degrees you’re able to put them in an unheated attic , room , or cellar or the vegetable section of your icebox . If you put them in the refrigerator , cover the hatful with plastic grip with a few breathing kettle of fish . you’re able to also leave behind them in an outdoor cold material body , but you ’ll need to mulch them to a great extent to keep them from freezing .
Forcing the Bulbs to Bloom
After you take the potty in from the coldness , start them out in a cool area ( 50 - 60 degrees ) for about a hebdomad until shoots and leaves show . Then , move them to normal room temperature , avoiding direct sun . They will bloom in three to four calendar week . The closer to spring , the quick they will bloom . Bring out pots weekly for a continuous display . you may prolong the inflorescence by moving the pots back into the cool at dark once they start to blossom .
unhappily , once squeeze most garden bulbs will not flower again , either indoors or out . Thank them for their service and send them to the compost piling after florescence .
Want to learn more about winter gardening and forcing bulbs?
To find out more about forcing bulbs , including how to farm paper white narcissus and amaryllis , check out these websites :
Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Beautyin Winter by University of Minnesota Extension .
Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Bloomby University of Missouri Extension .
Lynne Lamstein gardens in Maine and Florida and is currently working on a sustainable landscape . She has a degree in decorative gardening from Temple University .
