Blooms from forced bulbs, for gifts or to keep, can fill the home with the feeling of springtime months before the soil starts to thaw.
Follow this container recipe for continuous spring color
Want a gorgeous spring garden? Plant these 14 bulbs in fall for a riot of color and fragrance when winter fades! From classics like tulips to Bulbs To Plant
Fall is the time to plan for spring in the garden. These spring combinations will inspire you as you're placing your bulbs this fall.
Learn how to force spring bulbs indoors and get tips, tricks and instructions for growing a beautiful bulb garden in your home this winter from HGTV Gardens.
These pretty flowers can easily be placed in nearly any type of container.
You will need : bulbs (used here: amaryllis, Paperwhite, pre-chilled daffodils) containers, with and without drainage holes potting soil water Grow a gorgeous wintertime bouquet just in time for the h
FOR SPRING COLOR, BULBS MUST BE PLANTED IN THE FALL Nothing is more satisfying than planting dormant brown bulbs in autumn and seeing them emerge in late winter or early spring with fresh green shoots and gorgeous fresh flowers. Follow these steps to beautiful spring color: Purchasing: Purchase bulbs in late September and October when
Now’s the time to start forcing spring bulbs so you can have their cheerful blooms indoors. See two easy and attractive ways here!
While extraordinarily good-looking on their own, Snowdrops however look most charming when planted with companion plants. Well-behaved, they make perfect partners with other plants and help c
Make this gorgeous tabletop garden display and enjoy the lush arrangement during the winter months before transferring the bulbs into your garden come spring.
Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs In Containers I started planting spring-flowering bulbs in containers after many failed attempts to stop the squirrels from stealing bulbs planted in the ground. If you'd you're...
Potted Bulbs Bulbs that you force into bloom starting in the fall or winter keep summer around a little longer and excite our souls...
Amaryllis are bold, beautiful, easy-to-care-for houseplants that can illuminate a winter windowsill like no other. These vibrant winter bloomers come in over 500 varieties of varying hues, with red and white being the most popular standouts. Derived from the Greek word that means “to sparkle,” amaryllis carries the symbolic meaning of determination, love, and beauty. Such descriptions are very fitting if you have ever traced an amaryllis bulb through its life cycle and reaped the reward of its bloom. This spectacular blooming bulb is considered an indoor plant for potting in most regions; however, it is a perennial planting in much of the Southern Hemisphere. Amaryllis Bulbs have all that they need for growth and glorious blooms deep within their core. Bulbs go dormant and sleep for 6-8 weeks, and while sleeping, bulbs are working to form their buds internally. They are just waiting for awakening from a little bit of water and sunlight for their opportunity to shine. Each bulb produces a cluster of two to twelve exotic trumpet-like flowers atop lanky green shoots and separate spikes of leaves. Key Factors to Consider When Planting There are several components to ensuring the best growing environment for amaryllis bulbs. Soil composition, light, temperature, and care are all important considerations when planting. Soil Composition and pH The best way to plant amaryllis bulbs is to use soil that is high in organic matter. We suggest using a mix of soil that includes two-parts of loam soil to one-part perlite to one-part of well-decomposed compost. The ideal soil pH should measure between 6.0 and 6.8. Light and Temperature Requirements The amaryllis bulb will thrive best in a well-lit area that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. When in its dormant state, keep the bulb in a cool, dark space of no less than 55 degrees. Watering Water the amaryllis bulb after initial planting to wake up the bulb. After that, water the plant no more than once a week. Most problems encountered with failing bulbs are due to overwatering, which can rot the bulb. You can tell if your bulb has rotted if it loses its firmness and gets mushy when you press on it. Pruning After the amaryllis flowers bloom, cut the spent flowers off right below the small bulbous area behind the wilted flower. After all the removal of the wilted flowers, cut the stalk to within 2 inches of the base of the plant. After flowering, the plant’s leaves process energy through photosynthesis that transfers to the bulb. The amaryllis plant stores this energy in the bulb for the following growing season. You can treat the leafy plant as a houseplant for several months. When the foliage starts to die back naturally, cut it back to 1-2 inches above the bulb. At the end of the summer season, dig up the bulb and store it in a cool, dry, dark place for a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Amaryllis bulbs will go dormant so that it won’t need any water or attention until sometime in September. Best Ways to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs There are two preferred ways to plant amaryllis bulbs. They can be planted traditionally in a pot with soil, and they can also thrive with water alone housed in a glass bowl. In both scenarios, you should start by trimming spent roots that are dangling from the base of the bulb. These are last year’s roots and are not necessary for this year’s bloom. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you may have some success in planting amaryllis bulbs in your garden space. Late September is the ideal time for growing Amaryllis bulbs in flower gardens. Maintain a spacing of about 12 inches between two bulbs for the proper development of each plant. However, the sun-loving amaryllis grows best indoors. Instructions to Plant in a Pot with Soil Find a pot with a drainage hole in the bottom. Toss in some small garden stones or marbles to increase the drainage capabilities. This step keeps the bulb healthy and free from rot. Fill your pot about 1/3 of the way up. Place the bulb root-side down with the roots resting on the organic soil. Adjust the soil height by adding or removing soil so that the shoulder of the bulb is even with the top of the pot. The leaf spout of the bulb should be peeking above the pot. Fill in the rest of the pot with soil, gently pressing the soil around the bulb, leaving 1/3 of the bulb exposed. Do not bury the bulb or it will rot. If desired, you can add a little bit of moss loosely around the base of the bulb. Water lightly to initiate the waking up process. Kellogg Garden Organics All Natural Planting Mix Learn More Product Locator by Locally **Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here. Instructions to Plant in a Glass Bowl with Water Find a tapered glass bowl that will appropriately fit in the top tier of the bowl. Fill the bottom portion of the tapered bowl with water. Place the bulb into the top tier of the glass bowl so that the base of the bulb barely sits in the water. You do not want the bulb itself to be soaking in water, or else it will likely rot. Keep the planted bulb in a cool location until the bulb shows signs of waking up, and you start to see the roots growing down into the water. The reason for this is that since there is no soil to anchor the bulb in place, it would be unbalanced if the shoot grew faster than the roots could keep up with, and the plant will get too top-heavy. Once you see the roots and a small shoot emerging from the top of the bulb, you can slowly introduce the amaryllis plant into a sunny space. Change the water if it gets cloudy and keep the water level where the roots are submerged. Some Additional Helpful Tips As your amaryllis bulb sprouts, consider rotating the pot from time to time. Your plant will start to lean toward the sun and rotating the plant will help to balance the plant and avoid an unstable leaning plant As your bloom shoot gets taller, it can benefit from a support stake. Do not overwater your amaryllis. Overwatering will cause rot and loss of your plant. It is possible to remove side bulbs that emerge when the bulb enlarges over the years. They can be replanted in their pots or left to stay on their mother bulbs. It is important to note that these smaller bulb pieces take 3-6 years to develop into bloomers, so prepare to be patient. It is important to cut off spent flowers as they wilt away. If you do not do this, the flower will go to seed and expend excess nutrients away from the bulb. It takes six to eight weeks for blooms to form on the amaryllis, but this timing depends on a few factors, including the type of amaryllis, temperature and amount of sunlight, and the amount of time that the bulb has been dormant. There is undoubtedly a high level of anticipation that surrounds the wait for this stunner to bloom, but it is well worth the patience. With proper planting and dormancy care, the amaryllis bulb will reward you by proliferating in size and blooms and will continue to produce for many years to come. Share The Garden Love
Fall is the time to plan for spring in the garden. These spring combinations will inspire you as you're placing your bulbs this fall.
The calendar may say November but that doesn't mean that you can't still have flowers. I'm always looking for ways to stretch the gardening season. Last year, I posted a lesson on forcing paperwhite narcissus indoors. Here's a repeat of that lesson, only this time, I'll show you how to grow them in rocks and water. First, you have to pick healthy-looking bulbs. Your best bet is your local nursery but you can also check the big-box stores. Look for a plump bulb--you don't want anything squishy or dried up. Don't be afraid if it's already sprouting a little though--that's actually a good sign. Turn the bulb over to the root side. This is the side that will come in contact with the water. They will look dried and shriveled but will plump up when "planted". Use a water tight container. I like clear ones because I like seeing the roots growing. Fill the container with a shallow layer of rocks, stones, or gravel. Then place the bulbs in the container--they don't mind a tight squeeze. Then fill the container with enough water so that the water level is even with the base of the bulb roots. In a few days, you'll see the roots beginning to grow. Be sure to maintain the water level so that it is still even with the base of the bulbs. Keep your container in a spot that gets at least medium light. Near a window would be good. In a few weeks, you'll have blooms (stay tuned for that posting). I buy a whole bunch of bulbs and then plant some every week over the course of about five weeks so that I can have blooms through February. Bookshelf: Container Gardening Books
Several spring-flowering bulbs from cool regions must be chilled in warmer regions or forced to flower early indoors. Gardening expert Madison Moulton breaks down which bulbs need a winter chill and which don’t, with a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
In Part 1 of Matchmaking with Bulbs, I covered some ways of choosing flowering and foliage partners to create beautiful combinations with bulbs. Another way to choose companions is consider them fr…
Blooming alongside snowdrops, Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum) adds elegance to late winter and early spring.
Potted Bulbs Bulbs that you force into bloom starting in the fall or winter keep summer around a little longer and excite our souls...
Spring bulbs are planted in the fall and summer bulbs in the spring -- a swirl of seasons...
Make a big impact in your garden with these 3 mass planting techniques.
Waiting for spring can be exciting, but also exasperating. What if you could trick flower bulbs into growing earlier? Forcing flower bulbs is an easy and fun way to brighten up those dreary winter months with the blooms and fragrances of spring.
In early spring, the enchanting Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet) adds a burst of color and charm to the garden. Its heart-shaped glossy leaves are accompanied by a profusion of small, vibrant flowers in shades ranging from white to rosy-purple
Spring flowers bring color and beauty when we most need it. Which is why forcing bulbs can be such a wonderful endeavor!
In an exciting new development, the following post can now be enjoyed as a podcast as well as in text and photographs. Cultivars of Iris reticulata have enjoyed regular and enthusiastic coverage in…
Hardy in zones 9 or higher, many of us can only grow gloriosa as an annual. Northern gardeners can store gloriosa tubers indoors over winter. However, these tubers require a little different care than
% How to layer-plant flower bulbs %
You may have seen these being sold in your grocery but you can get creative and grow these too. All sorts of bulbs can be forced indoors.
These pretty flowers can easily be placed in nearly any type of container.
In late winter, before crocuses emerge, Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) brings delightful bursts of color to the garden. Its bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers, surrounded by leafy bracts, create a charming display.
Forcing bulbs indoors is one of the best things to do in December to liven those monochromatic winter months.
After our long Canadian winters, early spring usually sees me heading outside in the yard every day to see which spring bulbs have bloomed since the day before. They're among my favourite flowers because they
Forcing refers to tricking bulbs to bloom out of season indoors by providing them with favorable conditions for growing.
HGTV.com shows you how to force graceful paperwhite blooms.
Sometimes it’s perfectly appropriate to want to impress visitors with beds of large, showy bulb flowers such as tulips, narcissusContinue Reading
