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Paperwhites and amaryllis
are ready to plant and grow. All other bulbs must be cooled
for a time to fulfill their winter dormancy requirements before
they will produce foliage and flowers.
Planting:
Choose a pot shallow and wide enough to hold several bulbs.
Fill the pot halfway with stones or other coarse material,
set the bulbs in root side down, then fill the container with
fine stones, sand, light potting mix or other material until
the bulbs are about two-thirds covered. The bulbs already
contain all the nutrients needed to bloom one time, and too
rich a soil may cause them to rot. Water up to the base of
the bulbs. Or use a hyacinth glass: Fill with water to the
base of the bulb, and do not let it get dry.
Forcing:
After watering, cover the pot with plastic, punch a few holes
for circulation, and place in the fridge (which works well
because the temperature is consistent, but keep the bulbs
away from fruit). Or, place them in a garage, unheated basement,
root cellar, outdoors covered with 6-8" of leaves and
earth, or other dark place at 35-40°F. The bulbs will
not be hurt by light frost, but they will be harmed by heat
or a hard freeze.
| # of weeks
in: |
cold storage |
indirect light |
| Crocus |
4-6 |
1-2 |
| Galanthus, Scilla |
6-7 |
1-2 |
| Iris reticulata |
7-8 |
1-2 |
| Hyacinthus |
10-12 |
2-3 |
| Narcissus, Muscari |
12-13 |
3-4 |
| Tulipa |
14-15 |
3-4 |
You can tell the bulbs are
ready if you can see roots at the bottom of the pot, and leaf
tips beginning to emerge. Bring the bulbs into a cool area
(50-65°F) with plenty of indirect light to encourage leaf
growth. Too much heat at this point will cause premature flowering;
do not place near radiators or wood stoves. Keep the soil
moist, but do not overwater.
When 3-5" of leaf growth
has appeared, bring the pots into direct light to encourage
flowering. Once blooms have appeared, remove pots from direct
sun to keep blooms from fading quickly.
Plant forced bulbs out in
the garden in spring, or let them go dormant in their pots
and plant them in fall. They will not force well a second
time. The bulbs may not blossom until the 2nd spring after
they were planted outdoors.
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