Now’s
the Time to Force a Few Spring Flowering Bulbs
By Melinda Myers
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[November 26, 2019]
In
just fifteen minutes you can plant a beautiful garden guaranteed to
brighten your spirits and indoor décor this winter. All you need is
a container with drainage holes, potting mix and some tulips,
daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs. Once you have gathered
the needed materials, you can get started planting.
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Select bulbs labeled for forcing, shorter
varieties that are less likely to flop or bulbs that didn’t make it
into the garden this fall. Plant a container of one type of bulb or
use a combination for added color, texture, form and a longer bloom
time. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are most common, but you may
want to add another layer of color with shorter bulbs like crocus,
squills, and grape hyacinths.
Select a container with drainage holes and cover the bottom with an
inch or two of well-drained potting mix. Set the bulbs on the
potting mix with the pointed side, if it has one, up and root side
down. Place the flat side of the tulip bulb toward the outside of
the pot for a better display. Pack the container full of bulbs for
an impressive display. Cover the bulbs with soil and water
thoroughly.
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Or create a garden of spring flowers in a pot using a variety of
large and small bulbs. Place the largest bulbs on the lowest level
of a large container. Cover with soil and add the medium sized
bulbs. Cover these and add the smallest bulbs. Then cover with
several inches of potting mix and water thoroughly.
Move potted bulbs to a cold location with temperatures between 35
and 45 degrees for 15 weeks to initiate flowering. This is often the
most challenging part of the process. Place the potted bulbs in a
spare refrigerator where you do not store fruits and vegetables that
produce ethylene that can interfere with flowering. Otherwise, sink
the pot in the ground, or set it in an unheated garage away from the
door with a bit of insulation around the pot. Water thoroughly
whenever the soil is dry.
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Start removing the pots from cold storage after
fifteen weeks of chilling. Extend your enjoyment by removing the
pots at one- or two-week intervals.
Move the chilled container of bulbs to a cool location with indirect
light for two weeks. Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the
soil moist. Move them to a bright sunny window when the leaves are
about four to six inches tall. Bright sunlight and temperatures
around 65 degrees Fahrenheit will give you the best results. You’ll
be enjoying flowers in about three to four weeks after removing them
from storage.
Use pots of forced bulbs as centerpieces or flowering accents
indoors. Save a few to use outdoors on your balcony, deck or front
steps for added color in your spring landscape. Dress up your
display by placing the pots in window boxes or planters and cover
with mulch or moss.
Planting and forcing bulbs will help keep you gardening as the days
grow shorter and colder. And when you’ve had just about all the
winter you can stand, it will be time to break out the forced bulbs
for a bit of spring color.
[Photo credit: Melinda Myers, LLC]
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening
books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses How
to Grow Anything DVD series and the nationally syndicated
Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments. Myers’ website, www.MelindaMyers.com,
features gardening videos, podcasts, audio tips and monthly
gardening checklists.
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