Bulb forcing a great way to chase away the winter doldrums with some cheerful color

Last week I wrote that I’d go over the process of bulb forcing. So, here goes!

The definition of “forcing” a bulb is to get it to grow and bloom at a time when it usually wouldn’t. You’ve all seen amaryllis and pots of paperwhites available this time of year for decorating and gift giving, and those bulbs have been “triggered” to think it’s their time to bloom.

It’s really easy to force bulbs. You have a choice of how you’d choose to plant, too.

You can use a draining pot and soil method or, my favorite way, plant in a nondraining pot and hold the bulbs in place with marbles or colored stones — no soil is used at all.

Most bulbs can be forced as long as you chill them for about four weeks, that’s what the trigger is.

I will caution you to make wise choices when shopping for bulbs to force. Some grow to mature heights of 18- to 24-inches tall easily and that’s a lot of plantlife that can topple over, because remember, these guys are growing indoors and they stretch naturally towards good sunlight. Read the packaging of the bulbs you admire to be sure they’d be a good fit for your indoor surroundings. Tulips, shorter varieties of daffodils, hyacinths and even diminutive grape hyacinths and crocus are good candidate to force bulbs. So many choices.

At the retail level, keep an eye out for packaging that claims the bulbs are ready for forcing. Nowadays, more and more choices are showing up.

Now onto the how-tos.

Using the soil method, you’ll want to have your pot ready by placing pot sherds or a very shallow layer of pebbles to keep the soil in the pot. Then fill the pot about a third full of fresh, preferably warm, potting soil. Next, set the bulbs on that layer and continue to fill the pot soil until the bulbs are mostly covered. The “noses” of the bulb should be above ground level, so to speak. Remember to tamp the soil down as you’re filling the pot to offer the bulbs some stability. Really pack it in place.

Next, take the pot or pots to the sink or set them in a tub, and slowly water the pots so that all the soil gets truly dampened. I let mine sit in that water bath for a couple of hours to ensure all the soil is thoroughly getting wet. Then drip them off, set them on a saucer and place them in a fairly bright and warm spot. Within days, seven on the outside, you’ll see the bulbs start to pop growth. Keep the pots watered, never allowing the soil to dry out, and all should be well.

Now, my favorite method — water only. There are just a couple of differences between the water and soil methods.

First, think casserole dishes. You’ll want a nondraining container at least three inches deep. Thrift stores are a goldmine when it comes to nondraining containers. Then you’ll need marbles, or colored glass stones, clean pebbles or even washed landscape lava rock will work. Craft stores and nurseries sell a myriad of products, I’ll call it medium from here out, for you to use.

Pour a semi-shallow layer of your medium into the dish. Then set your bulbs on that layer and sprinkle more to completely surround the bulbs, again to offer stability. I like to think of the bulbs as a globe and you want to cover them to just past the equator, so three-quarters of the globe is below grade.

Next, pour tepid temperature water into the container so that it is just touching no more than a third of the bulb. Don’t submerge the bulbs completely. Your goal is to have the bulb bottom sitting in the water but allowing the balance of the bulb to have air. Monitor the water level, remembering that it will evaporate and the bulbs will be sucking up a certain amount. Never allow the container to dry out, but again, don’t submerge the bulbs.

Within days, they will start to awaken and with good care they’ll show signs of growth within days. Forcing is such a simple thing to do, and don’t think of it as just a holiday project.

With enough bulbs on hand and kept cool and dry, you can force until February to help chase away the winter doldrums. Trust me, once you’ve forced a bulb for the first time and enjoyed some blooms during the winter, you’ll be hooked.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.