Who says the cold season should be a slow time for the avid Calgary gardener? It’s true that your garden is taking a break for the winter, but inside your home you could already be sheltering the blossoms for planting early next year.
If you’ve been blessed with a green thumb, there are a few things as satisfying as nursing a plant to full bloom. The fact that you can do this despite the disagreeable climate just makes it that more rewarding. This technique is called forcing and it simply refers to any number of methods to induce a plant to produce shoots, leaves, and flowers. This is can be done in such a way that the plant begins to blossom ahead of its natural growth cycle and outside its usual environment.
Choosing the bulb
The first thing to take note is that some bulbs are more receptive to indoor forcing than others. Typical candidates for this method are tulips, daffodils, crocuses, amaryllis, hyacinths, and the Dutch iris. Gardening suppliers generally label their offerings if they’re good for indoor forcing or not so you can simply use that as a basis. Its best to have purchased the bulbs in early fall, sometime in September or October.
Preparing the pot
Use a pot that’s around 4 to 6 inches in diameter. When preparing these, it’s important that you set up some good drainage at the bottom. Some broken pottery or crushed gravel would do just fine. For potting soil mixture, any commercially available standard mixes are good. One suggestion is to mix one part of perlite with four parts of potting soil. The perlite can help prevent water loss and makes the soil less compact.
Planting the bulbs
Gently press them down into the soil with the pointed end facing up and the broad base down. If they happen to be particularly small you can actually place several in one pot. Crocuses look great in bloom when mass planted. Leave enough space between each bulb so that no two are touching. Water the bulbs with the appropriate amount afterwards to moisten the soil mixture then let it drain for a few hours.
Storing the planted bulbs
The next critical step is to store them in a cool and dark place. The recommended temperatures are between 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The bottom shelf of your refrigerator would perfectly meet these requirements. This stage can take anytime from 12 to 16 weeks. Keep in mind though that each bulb has its own characteristics and that affects the procedure. The amaryllis and Dutch iris for example don’t have to be kept in cold storage, while hyacinths need only 10 weeks.
Bringing them out
You’ll know it’s time when the shoots start to break through the surface. Don’t immediately put them in direct sunlight. Allow a week or two for the leaves and buds to grow out first. Start with the coolest area in your home and gradually move them out to warmer and brighter locations as they grow. Remember to turn the pots every day as this encourages the stems and foliage to grow straight. Also keep the soil moist but not soggy.
As you can see indoor forcing doesn’t take any special skills. We at Sunnyside would be more than happy to provide you with what you need, from bulbs to soil mixtures to pots. With just a little more attentiveness and the right materials, your indoors could be in spring as early as January.
Yours Truly,