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.
              
           

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 2^nd 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!

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