In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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November 16, 2007

Forcing bulbs

Photo by Florence Low, Sacramento Bee

Visit any nursery or garden center, and you’ll find plenty of bulbs to plant now for winter and spring bloom.

But there’s a way to bring spring inside, a way to fool Mother Nature into thinking warmer weather is just around the bend. It’s called forcing bulbs. It simply means duplicating conditions that signals them to grow and bloom - inside the house.

You can have hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus, crocus, tulips, amaryllis and more blooming inside to use as holiday centerpieces or simply to enjoy.

Depending on the bulb, it can take six to 16 weeks from the time they are potted, either in soil or water, until they bloom.

Narcissus are the easiest. I select an interesting clear vase, fill it with pebbles, set the bulbs on top, and then fill it with water until it just touches the bottom of the bulb. Once the bulbs begin to root, I’m careful not to let the water touch the bottom of the bulb. I use a clear vase so I can see the roots snaking their way among the pebbles.

If you want to try forcing bulbs, remember these tips:

Choose good quality bulbs. Check for moldy or rotten spots. Don’t buy bulbs that are soft or sprouting.

Plant bulbs with the pointed end up.

Turn vases every few days to keep foliage from growing lopsided toward the light.

When planting tulips, put the flat side of the bulb facing outward, toward the side of the container. This is where the first leaf appears, and it will make a nicer looking display with the leaves leaning outward.

Be imaginative about containers. Look around at garden centers, thrift stores and garage sales. Just be sure the container fits the bulb. Choose low, wide containers for crocus, and taller ones for narcissus, for example.

Don't store ripening fruit, especially apples or pineapple, near bulbs. The ethylene gas they give off can damage the bulb's growing tip.

Paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis are foolproof and can be purchased in kits ready to start.

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