Forcing Bulbs Indoors
FORCING BULBS INDOORS
Forcing is a process by which plants are stimulated to bloom at other than their normal time. Bringing hardy bulbs indoors will add color to household plants. This is easily accomplished with hardy bulbs if there is storage for the bulbs at a cold temperature.
Many spring bulbs can be forced indoors. Of the many types of tulips available, the Triumph strain is best because they have short, thick, sturdy stems. Other tulips will bloom indoors but may have weak, long stems and look out of proportion to their container.
Recommended Varieties varieties include: Tulip Red - Bing Crosby, Paul Richter, Olaf Yellow - Bellona White - Hibernia Pink - Christmas Marvel Variegated - Kees Nelis
Crocus Purple - Rememberance White - Peter Pan Striped - Pickwick Yellow - Large Yellow
Hyacinth Red - Jan Bos Pink - Pink Pearl, Lady Derby, Marconi White - L'Innocence, Colosseum,Carnegieue Blue - Ostara, Delft Blue
Grape Hyacinth Blue - Early Giant
Daffodil Yellow - Carlton, Unsurpassable, Dutch Master Bicolor - Fortune, Ice Follies, Magnet, Flower Record White - Mt. Hood
Bulbous Iris (reticulata) Blue - Harmony Yellow - Danfordiae Purple - Hercules
Plant bulbs for forcing in a clean container with a drainage hole, in a loose potting soil, such as six of one part humus, one, part peat or vermiculite and one part sand or perlite. Position each bulb so that its top is even with the top edge of the container. Plant several bulbs in a container for best display.
After planting, water the pots thoroughly and label each pot with the planting date and bulb variety. Fertilizer is not needed as the bulb has all the stored food within itself that will be needed to flower. Store the bulbs at least 13 weeks at temperatures between 35 and 48 degrees F and can be stored for longer, but not for less time. The storage period is critical to developing good roots; if the root system is under-developed, the flowers will be small and floppy. Good storage areas may be difficult to find; some possibilities include unheated cellars, porches, cold frames or even the refrigerator. The bulbs can even be buried in the garden and covered with a thick layer of straw to keep the ground unfrozen.
When the desired flowering time is early January, the approximate planting time is early September. When the desired flowering time is February, the approximate planting time is October and when the desired flowering time is March-April, the approximate planting time is Mid-November. After 13 Weeks, bring the pots indoors into a sunny room with temperatures around 60 degrees F. Warmer temperatures are undesirable, as they encourage rapid growth of long, lanky stems and foliage. The bulbs should be kept moist. The flowers should open in three to four weeks.
During flowering, it is advisable to keep the plants in as cool an area as possible, and keep the plants moist to encourage longer blooming. After flowering, the bulbs may be disposed of, as most will not flower well again. Exceptions are the hyacinth and daffodils, which may flower again if planted outdoors. When saving the bulbs, fertilize the plants with a high phosphorous houseplant fertilizer to keep them moist and to encourage healthy green leaves for the longest period of time. If possible, plant the bulbs in the spring after their foliage has died down, at their normal depth in the garden - about 6 inches deep for large bulbs and 2 to 3 inches deep for smaller bulbs.
SOURCE
"Forcing Bulbs Indoors" by Nancy J. Butler MSU Cooperative Extension Service Weed'Em and Reap-Aug.-Sept. 1987
