October is the time to plant tulips and other bulbs. Then you wait, and wait, and wait, for April or May for them to bloom. What if you didn’t have to wait that long? What if you could have tulips and daffodils blooming in January or February and could enjoy them indoors? Well, you can!
Just about any bulb that you would normally plant outdoors in fall can be forced to bloom indoors by Valentines Day.
The bulbs need a chilling period that simulates their underground winter home in cold soil. The chilling period ranges from 12 – 20 weeks depending on the type of bulb. You can find a timetable for chilling at www.bulb.com/spring/timetable.asp. The ideal temperature for chilling is 40 degrees but anything between 33 degrees and 50 degrees is fine. A refrigerator is ideal except for one thing: apples and other fruits that may be in the refrigerator emit ethylene gas which inhibits flowering. A spare refrigerator or a cool, dark spot in your basement or garage will work.
You can plant the bulbs in pots now and chill them right in the pots, or chill the bulbs in a paper bag and plant them after the chilling period. Select a deep pot for tall varieties and a shallower pot for shorter varieties. Make sure the pot has drainage holes. A fine mesh screen or a coffee filter placed in the bottom of the pot will prevent the soil from washing out.
Use as many bulbs as can fit in the pot without touching for the most dramatic flower display. Instead of planting the bulbs deep in the soil as you would outdoors, bulbs for forcing are planted just below the soil line so the bulb noses are showing. Use either potting soil or a soilless potting mix. Plant the bulbs pointy side up and water well. Mark your calendar with the date when the bulbs will come out of chilling.
Check the pots occasionally to make sure the soil has not dried out. It should be slightly moist. The bulbs are not completely dormant during this time – the root systems are developing so they are ready to explode with top growth when you bring them into the warmth.
When it’s time to bring the pots out, place them in a warm sunny window. The warmer the temperature, the shorter the flowering stems and the faster the bulbs will flower. Expect flowers within two to three weeks. To extend the bloom period, move the pots to a cool location at night and while you are away during the day.
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