Forcing Bulbs, Shortens Winter

By Jos Van Hage

Forcing bulbs indoors is a great way to add spring color and fragrance (depending on bulb) to the winter home. The easiest way to force bulbs is to use the water method, which is also a fun activity for children and makes an attractive display especially when done in clear glass.

The best bulbs to use are the prepared hyacinths, paperwhites and the large flowering amaryllis.

To begin, you want to start with containers that are about twice the depth of the bulb. Vases work well, jars, bottles, or any container that can hold water. There are also containers available from the garden center that are specifically designed for this purpose so that the bulb is suspended half way up the container such as a hyacinth glass.

 The next step will depend on the container you have chosen.

If you have a container that is specific for the purpose of growing a bulb in water or is tapered so that the bulb sits half way up the container, all you have to do is fill the container with water so that the level of water is just under the bottom of the bulb. You do not want any part of the bulb to be sitting in water as this will cause it to rot.

Containers that are not tapered or made for this purpose can also be used, however, you need to keep the bulb away  from the water so this is done is by filling the container half way with decorative rock, gravel or coarse sand. Then place the bulbs (hyacinth or paperwhites) on top with the pointed end up and add a little more rock to anchor the bulbs in place. Do not cover more than two-thirds of the bulb. Next add the water up to the bottom base of the bulb. 

 Amaryllis has long roots so you want the roots to be anchored into the gravel. Do this by soaking the roots of the bulb in water to soften them making them more pliable and easier to work with. Fill the container half full with gravel and then, holding the bulb with the roots spread out and hanging down , continue to add gravel filling the container so that the roots are in the gravel and the bottom two-thirds of the bulb is covered.

Once the bulb has been planted, fill the container with water up to ½ -1 inch (3cm) from the bottom of the bulb. You do not want the bulb touching the water.

If you have planted hyacinths or paperwhites, these need to be placed in a  cool (not freezing) dark place such as a garage, for a period of time until growth appears. It usually takes about 3 weeks for paperwhites when the roots begin to grow and on hyacinths that have been prepared 4-6 weeks  when you see about 2 inches of top growth.

After the growth appears place the bulbs in a sunny spot. The more heat the bulb gets the faster it will grow so to get the longest bloom time place the bulbs in a cooler  location!

Amaryllis does not need to go into a cool dark area but are placed in a sunny window and left to grow. Change the water on the bulbs when it becomes dirty or begins to smell and keep the water at the same  level by adding water periodically. After the bulb has finished blooming  they are thrown out as they are depleted of all nutrients and cannot be used again.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Garden Centres in the Prince George area:

• Highway 16 west at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 north at Northwood Pulpmill Road

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