Flowering Bulbs - Forcing and Prechilling
Forcing flowering bulbs is a nice way to bring spring indoors early. In some areas, it's the only way gardeners are going to get bulbs that need a cold period, to bloom. Here's how to prechill and frost spring flowering bulbs yourself.
Bulb Forcing Tips and Techniques
Spring bulbs can be made to bloom early and indoors. It’s called forcing bulbs and it’s pretty easy to do. Here’s how to force spring blooming bulbs and suggestions for which bulbs to force.
Spring bulbs can be made to bloom early and indoors. It’s called forcing bulbs and it’s pretty easy to do. Here’s how to force spring blooming bulbs and suggestions for which bulbs to force.
Forcing Paperwhites - How to Force Paper White Narcisis Indoors
Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) are popular indoor plants for winter because they're easy to grow and bloom a long time. Unlike other narcissus, paperwhites don’t require a chilling period, so forcing them is as easy as putting the bulbs in water and waiting. The fragrant flowers bloom within about 2-3 weeks of planting, for almost instant gratification. It's that easy. Here are some tips for forcing paperwhites.
Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) are popular indoor plants for winter because they're easy to grow and bloom a long time. Unlike other narcissus, paperwhites don’t require a chilling period, so forcing them is as easy as putting the bulbs in water and waiting. The fragrant flowers bloom within about 2-3 weeks of planting, for almost instant gratification. It's that easy. Here are some tips for forcing paperwhites.
Paperwhites - Using Alcohol to Keep Paperwhites from Falling Over
A problem when growing paperwhites is that they grow quite tall and top heavy and can fall over. Researchers in the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University have come up with an unusual solution to this problem: Alcohol. When paperwhite bulbs are grown in a dilute solution of alcohol, the plants don't grow as tall as they normally would - but the flowers remain normal size and last just as long. Why they thought of giving their paperwhites a nip, I don’t know.
A problem when growing paperwhites is that they grow quite tall and top heavy and can fall over. Researchers in the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University have come up with an unusual solution to this problem: Alcohol. When paperwhite bulbs are grown in a dilute solution of alcohol, the plants don't grow as tall as they normally would - but the flowers remain normal size and last just as long. Why they thought of giving their paperwhites a nip, I don’t know.
Prechilling Spring Blooming Bulbs for Forcing
Many spring flowering bulbs can be forced into bloom during the winter, but most will need a period of cold temperatures to stimulate growth and flower production. This period of precooling varies with the type of bulb, as shown on the Prechilling Chart.
Many spring flowering bulbs can be forced into bloom during the winter, but most will need a period of cold temperatures to stimulate growth and flower production. This period of precooling varies with the type of bulb, as shown on the Prechilling Chart.
Forcing Spring Flowering Bulbs for Winter Color
Many spring blooming bulbs can be forced into bloom in the winter months. Some tropical bloomers,like paperwhites and amaryllis, take little effort at all.
Many spring blooming bulbs can be forced into bloom in the winter months. Some tropical bloomers,like paperwhites and amaryllis, take little effort at all.
Paper Whites - Growing and Caring For Paper White Narcissus
Paper whites are one of the easiest bulbs to force indoors, but they also make wonderful outdoor flowers. Here's some info on their care and culture from the Flower Expert - Online Flowers Encyclopedia.
Paper whites are one of the easiest bulbs to force indoors, but they also make wonderful outdoor flowers. Here's some info on their care and culture from the Flower Expert - Online Flowers Encyclopedia.