Blooming indoor bulbs are a striking vision on a cold winter's day.
It is frosty outside.
The sky is gloomy and dreary.
Fluffy, white snow is beginning to noiselessly fall to the ground.
However, in our world spring is near.
On the kitchen windowsill or in your flower shop, blooming potted bulbs radiate a brand new anticipation of a season that is alive with freshness and warmth.
Bulbs to grow indoors include, amaryllis, crocuses, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and paper white narcissuses.
Of all the bulbs that will bloom out of season the following are the easiest.
Paper White Narcissus Fill a pot without a drainage hole within two inches of the rim, with course sand, pebbles, or charcoal.
Add water to the potting material.
Plant the bulb keeping its base above the water line.
Plant about one inch apart; set the container in a cool (about 50 degrees), dark, well-ventilated location.
Keep wet, the bulbs will shrivel and die if allowed to become dry.
When the shoots become 3 or 4 inches tall move the pot to a bright north exposure or filtered light 3 or 4 days a week.
You are slowly getting the narcissus used to the brighter light.
Move it back to indirect light once the flowers bloom.
This will make the flowers last as long as possible.
The narcissus bulbs will not bloom again indoors, but you can return the same bulbs to the garden in the fall.
Amaryllis Amaryllis will bloom year after year indoors.
They like it best when the roots are crowded.
The bulbs are large in size and need pots 2-3 inches larger than the bulb put drainage in the pot by adding pieces of broken clay pots.
If planted in October to March, they will bloom from December to April.
Plant the bulb indoors, water and do not water again until it sprouts.
Then move it into the sun and begin to water regularly.
When the amaryllis begins to bloom, once again, move the potted plant to indirect light to preserve the life of the flowers.
Spring Bulbs Such as Tulips, Hyacinths, and Crocuses These bulbs can flower indoors from January to April.
They have to be "chilled" before bringing indoors to be forced to bloom.
To chill, they have to be planted in preferably shallow bulb pans or clay pots.
After planting they need to be placed in a cold spot but not freezing.
Do this for about 10-12 weeks.
A cold frame outdoors works well.
Then bring the pots indoors, put in indirect light.
Once they start to shoot up, put in a sunnier window.
When the actual blooms come on, once again, move to a less sunny location to prolong the life of the blooms.
If you want to set the bulbs outdoors in the fall, go ahead and let the leaves grow to maturity inside, even after the flowers have faded.
It is frosty outside.
The sky is gloomy and dreary.
Fluffy, white snow is beginning to noiselessly fall to the ground.
However, in our world spring is near.
On the kitchen windowsill or in your flower shop, blooming potted bulbs radiate a brand new anticipation of a season that is alive with freshness and warmth.
Bulbs to grow indoors include, amaryllis, crocuses, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and paper white narcissuses.
Of all the bulbs that will bloom out of season the following are the easiest.
Paper White Narcissus Fill a pot without a drainage hole within two inches of the rim, with course sand, pebbles, or charcoal.
Add water to the potting material.
Plant the bulb keeping its base above the water line.
Plant about one inch apart; set the container in a cool (about 50 degrees), dark, well-ventilated location.
Keep wet, the bulbs will shrivel and die if allowed to become dry.
When the shoots become 3 or 4 inches tall move the pot to a bright north exposure or filtered light 3 or 4 days a week.
You are slowly getting the narcissus used to the brighter light.
Move it back to indirect light once the flowers bloom.
This will make the flowers last as long as possible.
The narcissus bulbs will not bloom again indoors, but you can return the same bulbs to the garden in the fall.
Amaryllis Amaryllis will bloom year after year indoors.
They like it best when the roots are crowded.
The bulbs are large in size and need pots 2-3 inches larger than the bulb put drainage in the pot by adding pieces of broken clay pots.
If planted in October to March, they will bloom from December to April.
Plant the bulb indoors, water and do not water again until it sprouts.
Then move it into the sun and begin to water regularly.
When the amaryllis begins to bloom, once again, move the potted plant to indirect light to preserve the life of the flowers.
Spring Bulbs Such as Tulips, Hyacinths, and Crocuses These bulbs can flower indoors from January to April.
They have to be "chilled" before bringing indoors to be forced to bloom.
To chill, they have to be planted in preferably shallow bulb pans or clay pots.
After planting they need to be placed in a cold spot but not freezing.
Do this for about 10-12 weeks.
A cold frame outdoors works well.
Then bring the pots indoors, put in indirect light.
Once they start to shoot up, put in a sunnier window.
When the actual blooms come on, once again, move to a less sunny location to prolong the life of the blooms.
If you want to set the bulbs outdoors in the fall, go ahead and let the leaves grow to maturity inside, even after the flowers have faded.