Northeast Nursery Garden Center: Seeds and Bulbs

Garden Center: Seeds and Bulbs

Force Paperwhite Narcissi and Amaryllis Indoors for Winter Color in the Home

Indoor Forcing is the process that stimulates bulbs to bloom out of season. Hyacinths, Daffodils, Tulips and Crocuses are perfect for Indoor Forcing. Of all the flower bulbs available in autumn, Hyacinths, Paperwhites, Narcissus (Daffodils) and Amaryllis are the easiest to bring into flower. However, many other bulb varieties are also suitable for your indoor garden.

	Paperwhite Narcissus Easily to be forced indoors for winter blooms, providing a bright, cheery sight in the depth of a long, cold winter. This Narcissus has broad, rounded creamy white petals with a small, flattened yellow cup.
Amaryllis Brilliant double red flowers with hints of white at the petal tips and center.

Step 1:	Step 2:	Step 3:	Step 4:
Place a layer of hard medium (such as pebbles or clay chips) on the bottom of the container to provide drainage. Fill the container almost to the top with potting soil, then plant the bulbs on top of this, close together.	Add the rest of the soil to partially cover the bulbs. Thoroughly soak the entire pot with water. Place the container in a cool place (below 50°F (10°C), and above 32° (0°C)) for a period of 12 weeks. During this period, keep the soil moist; (Paperwhites and Amaryllis do not require cold temperature treatment).	A cool cellar, unheated garage, or refrigerator is a perfect environment, except in the extreme South where refrigeration must be used. After 12 weeks of cool storage, the root system should be well established. With a strong root system and one inch sprouts, our pot is now ready to be moved indoors to a sunny location. The temperature should not exceed 80° (26°C). The pale shoots will quickly turn green	Water once a day or every other day to keep the soil moist. You have just fooled Mother Nature into producing beautiful, natural blooms in your home!

Helpful Tips

Rooting
The potted bulbs need period of cold storage of at least 12 weeks to develop roots, stem and bud. Rooting should be at temperatures of 40°F (4°C) to 50°F (10°C).

For Indoor Rooting: Place the pots in a cool cellar, refrigerator, garage or outdoor shed where they will not freeze. Pots rooted indoors must be kept in complete darkness and watered regularly.

For Outdoor Rooting: Dig a bed deep enough to hold the pots and about 3 inches of sand. Spread an inch of sand or pebbles on the bed bottom for drainage. Set the pots on the sand and cover them with two inches of sand and a mound of about six inches of soil. Then, supply a mulch of hay, straw, or evergreen branches to prevent freezing and heaving. Water the bed regularly until freezing weather sets in.

Containers for Indoor Forcing
Choose containers that reflect your decorating tastes. Metal, ceramic, plastic and clay planters will all do. If new clay pots are used, soak them in water 24 hours prior to use. Forced bulbs require well-drained soil; therefore, containers must have a drainage hole, and must be at least twice as deep as the bulb for roots to develop.

Number bulbs per 6" (15cm) container:

Tulips:	6 bulbs	Crocus:	12 Bulbs
Narcissus (Large Varieties):	3 Bulbs	Muscari (Grape Hyacinths):	12 Bulbs
Narcissus (Short Varieties):	6 Bulbs	Paperwhites:	5 Bulbs
Hyacinths:	3 Bulbs	Amaryllis:	1 Bulb

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Spring Bulb Catalog
Spring will be back before you know it and we are always here to help your garden be a success this year right from the start. Take a look at the new Langeveld Landscape Guide for great spring bulb ideas and knowledge. Click here to view the Spring Bulb Catalog.

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