From bulbs to blooms

Spring color and fragrance from bulbs is far from our minds when all we see is the funny dried, brown things in garden stores.

Yet now is the time to plan for a winter season of spring color indoors. Forcing bulbs into bloom is easy, and preplanning can bring color throughout the winter months.

To bloom, spring bulbs need a chilling period in their growing cycle. It’s the reason spring bulbs are planted outdoors in the fall; the cool wet soil and winter temperatures give the natural chill needed.

To coax bulbs into bloom indoors, mimic the cooling period; typically a chill for 10 to 16 weeks in temperatures of 35 degrees to 45 degrees. An unheated garage or spare refrigerator works well.

If space is limited indoors, in our climate they can be placed outside. Plant them in recycled nursery pots, set aside in a potting area and make sure to cover them top and bottom with netting like chicken wire to keep the squirrels from raiding them.

One of the biggest failures in bulb forcing is over watering. Keep bulbs from getting waterlogged and rotting over the winter. Make sure containers have drainage holes and the pots are never in standing water.

After the appropriate chill out period, bring the pots inside. Most bulbs brought into warmth will bloom within three weeks depending on the temperatures inside.

Initially, place in a cool spot in the home to gradually warm them up; don’t worry about sunlight at this point. A slow warm up is less of a shock and the blooms will last longer. When you see active growth and the stems are elongating, bring them into a warmer area with full light, such as sunny west facing window. Water when dry and be careful not to over-water.

VALENTINE’S DAY RED & WHITE

To plant: Plant “Christmas Dream” and “White Marvel” tulips, the first week in November. In a pot about 12 inches deep; fill with soil about 4 to 6 inches. Plant the tulips by gently pressing the bulbs into the soil base down, and the nose pointed up. They should be packed in as close together as possible without touching each other or the pot. Face the flat side of tulip bulbs toward the outside of the pot.

Store: Cover with soil to the top. Keep chilled until the third week in January.

LASAGNA LAYERS FOR A BOUQUET OF COLOR

Bulb layers: Try a “lasagna”-style container garden by layering different varieties of bulbs.

The container: Choose a container with at least 18 inches of depth and well draining. The soil depth and pot size also depend on the type of bulbs being planted. Big bulbs such as King Alfred-type daffodils and large tulips need to be planted up to 6 inches deep whereas smaller bulbs such as crocus and Muscari need a depth of 3 inches.

To plant: Add enough soil in the bottom to start the largest bulbs with the deepest requirements first, top with soil to cover them and layer the next size of bulbs, repeat layers until the top few inches of the container.

Pack the bulbs in: As long as they are not touching each other, each layer can be filled abundantly.

Store: Keep chilled for at least 12 weeks and bring inside to warm them up. This type of container will bloom for a long period of time as the different varieties make their way up.

BULBS FOR CHRISTMAS COLOR

1. Paperwhites

No chill required: A delicate fragrant indoor blossom that is classic for Christmas decorating, they don’t need a cooling period to bloom indoors. Choose bulbs that are firm, with rich brown outside layers. A bit of green bud showing is fine.

To plant: In the bottom of the pot, place two inches of white rock, or show a little creativity and use beach glass, marbles or anything that will hold the bulbs with stability.

Set bulbs firmly on top of the rock, roots down and stems up. In a 4 inch pot place 3 bulbs, in a 6 inch pot use 5 bulbs. Loosely fill the pot with remaining white rock, to the rim. About half of the bulb will be exposed.

To store: Water well and place in a warm, dark area or away from direct sunlight until green shoots emerge 2 to 4 inches. Bring the pot into a sunny spot and keep even watering. Do not overwater.

Fast blooms: Paperwhite flowers will bloom in 6 to 8 weeks. Keep blooming plants away from heat sources. The blooms will last longer if kept in a cooler spot of the home.

2. Amaryllis

No chill required: Large bulbs with showy blooms perfect for Christmas décor that do not need chilling.

To plant: Place the bulb in a pot that is only slightly larger than the bulb. They do better in tight quarters and need a good stable base. Place pebbles in the bottom 1 inch of the pot. Place approximately 2 inches of soil in the pot. Firmly place the bulb on top of the soil. Add more soil or take away soil under the bulb so that about a third of the bulb is exposed.

To store: Water thoroughly, and place in a warm spot. Keep the soil barely moist until growth begins then water regularly.

Fast blooms: Amaryllis usually bloom four weeks after planting.

Sue Goetz is a garden designer, speaker and writer from Gig Harbor. Visit www.thecreativegardener.com.

Best Bulb Varieties for Indoor Forcing

Tulips: The best types of tulips for forcing include the Triumph, Single Early, Double Early, and Darwin Hybrids. Varieties include Christmas marvel, Flair, Ile de France (Chill about 12 weeks). Red Riding Hood, Apricot Beauty and other species tulips (Chill about 16 weeks)

Crocus: Flower record, Pickwick, Jeanne d’Arc (Chill 14 weeks)

Daffodils: Tete-a-Tete (chill 12 weeks), Jack Snipe, Thalia, Ice Follies, Golden Harvest (Chill 11-13 weeks)

Hyacinths: Delft Blue, Carnegie, Pink Pearl (Chill 11 to 13 weeks)

Tip: Plant up different varieties and stage them to stagger blooms for other holidays beyond Christmas. Think red and white tulips for Valentines Day and pastels for Easter.