April 30, 2010, Newsletter Issue #442: Forcing Plant Bulbs

Tip of the Week

Many gardeners like to force bulbs for midwinter or even holiday blooms. The stores are full of bulbs around this time of year, such as Amaryllis that have already been forced and are just waiting for someone to take them home.
 


 


 
So, what is the best way to go? Should you buy bulbs that someone else has forced or attempt to do it yourself? Well, really that answer is completely up to you. Many times doing it yourself will allow you more freedom to choose bulb combinations, containers, etc. It is also often cheaper for you to force the bulbs yourself, although not always. 
 


 


 
If you are planning on working with hardy bulbs, remember that they need a chilling period of about 6 weeks before they should be brought out into warm conditions and forced to bloom. You will need to buy hardy bulbs in the fall as most of them are not available later in the winter.
 


 


 
With tender bulbs you will not need this chilling period. Bulbs that you can choose that do not require this cool period include cyclamen, amaryllis, oxalis, clivia, scilla, melasphaerula, veltheimia, bowiea, cannas and calla lilies. These bulbs will all make a grand show in your house during the winter months. One major requirement of these bulbs to get them to bloom indoors is to keep them dormant during the summer months, with the exception of clivias. 
 


 


 
When you pot your bulbs up be sure to water them well and then leave them alone until you begin to see shoots coming up. Failure to do this will likely result in your bulb rotting instead of blooming, also don’t forget to fertilize your bulbs once the leaves begin to show.
 


 


 
Forcing bulbs is a really easy technique that anyone can successfully accomplish with a little patience. Containers of forced bulbs also make wonderful presents or housewarming gifts and are usually relatively inexpensive compared to over equally lush gifts.
 


 


 
If you feel like you don’t have any room for more pots in your house, why not plant a few bulbs in with your houseplants? This will add some color and help to hide the soil.
 


 

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