Forcing Bulbs
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1408 -- More Projects »
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You could have beautiful blooms like this in your living room. Find out how below.
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Gardener Lil Linder explains how to grow fresh-blooming flowers indoors, even in winter, by forcing bulbs.
- Choose bulbs that have a maximum height of 15 inches. Anything taller will droop when forced in a clay pot.
- Count ahead 16 weeks to determine when your bulbs will bloom.
- Select a container. Make sure is has good drainage. Feel free to be creative with your choice.
- Fill the container with planting medium to within two inches of the rim for large bulbs and closer to the top for smaller bulbs.
- Choose a potting medium. A bulb contains all it needs to bloom the first year. The planting mix doesn't have to provide any nutrients, but it must have excellent drainage. Gravel and sand are great alternatives to potting soil, but potting soil is fine.
Arrange the bulbs pointed end up (figure A). Crowd them so you have a full display. When positioned, the tops of the bulbs should be at a level 1/2 inch below the rim of the container. Fill around them so that the tips just barely poke out of the soil. Moisten the soil.
Place the bulbs in a chilling spot--should be between 40 to 45 degrees--to germinate. Options might be an unheated garage, crawl space or basement room furthest from the heat. Be sure they are kept moist but not soaking. After the prescribed number of weeks (will vary with different species) start checking the containers frequently for signs that the bulbs are ready. Look for roots growing out of the drainage holes in the container or shoots coming out of the bulbs. The shoots will be white and anemic looking. Don't worry--they will perk up when they're placed in sunlight. This will take about 10 weeks. Once they sprout, transition to a warm area for about four to five weeks. If the sprout is white don't place in direct sunlight. Start in indirect light until color appears. After that, the more sunlight the better.
Paperwhites do not need the cooling period. Fill a pot with rocks about 3/4 of the way full. Place the bulbs on the rocks. Cover with remaining rocks. Water almost to the top (figure B). They should bloom in about four to six weeks.Amaryllis bulbs (figure C) need only be placed in water and they will bloom in about four to six weeks.
Guests Lill Linder
Gardening Expert, Linder's Greenhouses & Holiday Center
St. Paul, MN
Phone: 651-488-1927
Website:
www.linders.com Also in this Episode
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