Examples of
bulbs suitable
for forcing:
• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Hyacinths
• Crocus
• Dutch iris
• Scilla
• Chionodoxa
soil. Use some broken pieces of
terra cotta pots or small stones
over the holes to keep them
open to the water. My newest
technique is to use paper coff ee
fi lters to cover the drain holes.
Next, fi ll the pot half full of
soil and place the bulbs in it to
check the depth. The top of the
bulb should reach the rim of the
container. Add enough soil to
fi ll the pot, but do not bury the
bulbs. Don’t push the bulbs into
the pots because doing so will
compact the medium below the
bulbs and inhibit rooting.
When planting tulips or other
bulbs that have fl at sides, place
the fl at side of the bulb facing
the outside of the pot. This will
cause the fi rst leaf of each plant
to face outward and create an
attractive arrangement.
Place the containers in an area
that will maintain a temperature
between 2° and 9° C. A fridge
or cold room will work. The
bulbs should be kept at this
temperature for a minimum of
twelve to thirteen weeks making
sure the potting soil stays moist.
After a minimum of twelve
weeks, check the pots to be
sure the bulbs are well rooted.
Short shoots should also be
present. Bring the containers
into a cool, bright room that
can be kept at 13° to 16° C or as
close to it as you can manage.
They should bloom in three to
four weeks. Discard the bulbs
after they fl ower as forced bulbs
seldom will re-bloom when
planted outdoors.
Some bulbs do not require
chilling to trigger the blooms.
Amaryllis and paperwhites fall
into this category. You can grow
these bulbs in a pot with soil like
other bulbs but also in a shallow
bowl fi lled with pebbles. If you
choose the pebble route, when
you add water, the level should
not cover more than the bottom
third or quarter of the bulb.
Both amaryllis and paperwhites
have their own added bonuses.
The amaryllis might well be
called the king of bulbs with
its spectacular fl oral display
with huge, showy blooms. The
paperwhites off er an intense
fragrance in addition to their
delicate beauty.
I experience a deep satisfaction
when viewing the forced blooms
that seem to make winter just a
little shorter — and spring seem
even closer. ●
Gerald Filipski is a member of
the Garden Writers Association
of America.
news&views WINTER 2018 | 19