Forcing a Bulb to Bloom
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These bulbs have been pre-chilled. This artificial winter tricks bulbs that usually bloom in the spring, to be "forced" into bloom in the winter. Our bulbs can be "forced" indoors during the months Sept.-Feb. |
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Forcing in a vase
The simplest method of forcing is in a specially designed bulb forcing vase. Bulb forcing vases have a wide lip at the top of the vase to suspend bulbs over the vase of water. If forcing bulbs in a forcing vase, change the water every three to four days and maintain the water level just to the bottom of the bulb. (the bottom of the bulb is the flat side - the pointed end should face up.)
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Forcing in rock
You may also force bulbs by setting them on a tray of pebbles, sand or aquarium gravel and filling the tray with water. The water level should fall at the top of the pebbles so that the bottom of the bulb is barely touching water. Maintain this water level and change the water weekly.
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Forcing in soil
You may also plant the bulb indoors in a pot of well drained soil. Plant 1/2 of the bulb in the soil, leaving the top exposed. When planting in soil, water regularly, but let the soil dry out between watering. In the south, where the temperatures do not fall below freezing in the winter months, you can plant these bulbs outside in 6 inches of well-drained soil. Never let the bulb stand in water as that can cause rot.
For all methods, flowers will appear in 4-6 weeks. Narcissus bulbs typically do not bloom again after they have been forced since forcing them takes up too much of it's energy and nutrients.