Windowsill Blooms All Winter Long
By Cheryl Farley
Well, here we are. Cold is setting in. Gardens have been put to bed. Leaves have fallen. As the natural world around is starting to turn many shades of gray, the pining for warmer more colorful days can begin to creep in. To help stave off those cravings, the forcing of spring bulbs for indoor blooming during the weeks to come, can be just the thing. With the holidays on the horizon, planting some paperwhite or amaryllis bulbs now can ensure a great gift or a windowsill full of cheer in no time.
While forcing sounds rather violent, it is actually just a term that means tricking the bulbs to bloom out of season. The biggest trick may be figuring out how schedule their arrival if hoping for a succession of blooms over the next few months. With a little effort, it is possible to have a garden of spring delights all winter long.
Most bulbs require chilling for a period of time before they will bloom. However, amaryllis and paperwhites are tropical plants and do not need this step, making them the easiest to plan for a predictable bloom time. These bulbs are plentiful now in stores and online, as always be sure to procure from a reliable source. Once planted they grow quickly. They make lovely gifts, either as starter kits or already in full bloom. Paperwhites offer delicate white mini blossoms with a very strong scent. Some love it, some not so much, so keep this in mind if presenting as a gift. Amaryllis are quite a bit bolder and come in a zillion varieties of colors and variegations.
To plant, find a pretty clay pot, tin or ceramic planter, or any sturdy container that is deep enough to allow the roots to grow a few inches, while also allowing potting soil to cover the bulbs up to their necks. Fill a few inches with potting soil, place as many bulbs in the pot as can fit for a full display – or fewer depending on the desired outcome. It is not necessary to space as if planting outdoors. Next add more soil to cover the round part of the bulbs, leaving the pointy tops exposed, gently tamp down the soil, and then water just enough to keep the soil evenly moist – not wet. Bulbs that sit in wet soil will rot. Another option is to place single bulbs in individual glass vases or jars. There are specific forcing vases available that have been popular since Victorian times. They are hourglass shaped and require no soil. Just keep the bottom of the vase filled with water for the roots – the bulb sits on the top portion of the vase. An array of colorful glass vases filled with spring flowers can offer quite a boost to ones’ spirits even on the darkest of days.
If planting tulips, daffodils, hyacinth or smaller bulbs like crocus or grape hyacinth, a little more planning and work is involved. These bulbs need to be planted and placed in a refrigerator, cold frame, chilly garage or basement for a certain amount of time. Daffodils only need 2-3 weeks of chilling and then will bloom within 2-3 weeks. Tulips, hyacinth and most others need 10-15 weeks of chill time. Crocus and hyacinth need about 6-8 weeks. The bulbs can be chilled prior to planting or afterward. If using a refrigerator be sure to keep bulbs away from any fruit – ethylene gas from fruit will rot the bulbs. Once the minimum time has passed, plant the bulbs (if not done already) and then move them to a warmer area with indirect sunlight. Once the roots start to show through the drain hole in the bottom of the container and the stems start to shoot up a couple of inches or so tall, place them in a warmer spot with direct sunlight. Most bulbs will then bloom in a couple of weeks or so. Bulbs can stay chilled longer than the minimum requirement, so bringing them up in succession over the winter will allow for a constant supply of bright colors and sweet fragrances. Don’t forget to keep the soil moist (not soggy) during the chill time, as well as when they start to emerge and bloom. Cheers!