Pre-Chilled and Pre-Forced Bulbs

You may not like the containers pre-chilled bulbs come in, but you can easily repot them. Gently remove the bulbs with their soil and replant into another planter. Place the bulbs in a cool spot with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil moist.

Paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis bulbs don't require a cooling period. Both can also be forced in water.

Paperwhites

• Pour pebbles, river stones, polished sea glass or colorful glass marbles into a container.
  
• Place the bulbs firmly into the pebbles to anchor them and keep them from tipping over.
  
• Add water until it almost touches the bottom of the bulbs.
  
• Change water every few days to keep it fresh.

Amaryllis

• Look for large, healthy bulbs that are showing some green shoots.
  
• When planting in soil, choose a small pot--amaryllis likes to be root-bound.
  
• Fill soil around the bulb leaving the top inch or two above the soil line.
  
• Amaryllis can be planted outside after blooming or kept as a houseplant and placed outdoors during the summer. You can force a dormancy period in the fall and it will bloom again in the winter.