How to make 'forcing bulbs' a quick and easy project.
In just 15 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 spring flowering bulbs. Once you have gathered your materials you can get started planting.
Here’s What You Need
- Bulbs labeled for forcing – although all bulbs will work
- Include larger flowering bulbs like Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Alliums
- Mix with smaller ones like: Crocus, Squills, Grape hyacinths, Iris, Glory of the Snow, winter aconites, showdrops, Anemone blanda
- Well-drained potting mix
- Container with drainage holes
- Recycled or new plastic pots work great for forcing. Dress them up in spring by setting them in a decorative pot or basket.
- Use attractive pots that showcase your plantings and fit your interior décor.
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Planting Tips
- Monoculture planting – Use one or more of the same size bulb
- Place potting mix on the bottom of the container
- Pack the container full of the selected bulbs
- Cover bulbs with potting mix and fill to within 1/2” of the top of the containe
- Layered planting – Use a variety of bulbs for various heights & bloom times
- Place potting mix on the bottom of the container
- Plant the larger bulbs at the lowest level
- Cover these with potting mix
- Place medium sized bulbs on the next layer above the previously planted bulbs
- Cover with potting mix
- Place the smallest bulbs closest to the surface. Cover these with several inches of potting mix
- Plant bulbs with pointed end (if they have one) up and root plate down – don’t worry, even those bulbs planted upside down will grow
- Place tulip bulbs with the flat-side out for the best display.
Care
- Water thoroughly after planting the bulbs
- Place potted bulbs in a cool location (35 to 45 degrees) for 15 weeks. Options include:
- Sinking the pot in the ground outdoors
- Placing the pot in an unheated garage away from the overhead door– Set pot on wood board and further insulate the container with items found in your garage
- Chill in an extra refrigerator. Be sure to keep them away from apples
- Moisten soil if it dries in storage
Forcing into Bloom
- After the 15 weeks of chill you can start bringing them into flowering
- Move to a cool bright location
- Allow 2 to 4 weeks for flowers to appear
- Move to a warmer location to shorten the time to flowering
- Move to a cooler location to increase the time to bloom
- Stagger the times pots are removed from cold storage to extend bloom time and your enjoyment
- Stake tall plants for support
- Prune or purchase a few twigs for a natural look
- Use bamboo or decorative stakes for added beauty
After Bloom Care
- Treat forced bulbs like houseplants
- Remove spent flowers
- Water thoroughly and as needed to keep soil slightly moist
- Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering plant fertilizer
- Then follow tips for planting outdoors
- Compost
- You’ll be returning the bulbs to the garden in a different form
- Plant outdoors after danger of frost or store in a cool dark location until fall
- These bulbs may not bloom until the 2nd spring after planting
- Forced hybrid tulips and hyacinths may never bloom again but provided lots of enjoyment indoors
Written by gardening expert, Melinda Myers. Melinda Myers is a nationally recognized gardening expert with more than 30 years of horticulture experience. She is a wealth of knowledge and we are pleased to share Melinda’s Gardening How-To with you!