How to plant prepared bulbs for indoor forcing

Which bulbs to force?

To enjoy flowers indoors during winter, certain bulbs are particularly well-suited for forcing. Hyacinths are an excellent choice, especially the variety ‘Delft Blue’ for its intense blue colour or ‘Carnegie’ for its white flowers. Tulips (such as ‘Apricot Beauty’ or ‘Red Riding Hood’) and crocuses add a splash of colour in mid-winter. Amaryllis (for example ‘Minerva’ or ‘Apple Blossom’) offer spectacular flowers. You can also choose grape hyacinths, which will delight with their tiny blue bells. Daffodils, particularly the variety ‘Paperwhite’, are also popular for their quick and fragrant flowering. Opt for healthy, good-sized bulbs for successful flowering.

When to force bulbs?

Forcing bulbs requires advance planning to enjoy flowers in winter. You should start the process in early autumn, between September and November. The bulbs need a cold period of 8 to 14 weeks depending on the species. After this period, place them in a warm and bright environment to trigger flowering. This will allow you to have flowers in midwinter, around Christmas.

How to force bulbs in pots?

Upon receiving your bulbs, choose an attractive container with drainage holes (terracotta pot, planter…), whose height should be at least twice the height of the bulbs.

• Place a layer of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom to improve drainage
• Add horticultural soil or compost mixed with sand, or a ready-to-use potting mix. The substrate should be light and porous, a blend of 2/3 garden soil and 1/3 sand works well.
• Position the bulbs with the pointed end upwards, planting them close together but ensuring they don’t touch. Cover them with soil, leaving the tip of the bulb slightly exposed.
• After planting, water lightly to moisten the soil without saturating it.
• Place the pots outdoors in the garden or on a balcony.
• When the bulb produces a shoot, bring the pot indoors and place it in a cool, dark spot for four days to a week.
• Once the shoot reaches 8–10 cm, move the pot inside. It’s best to acclimatise it gradually by first placing it in a cool, bright room before moving it to a heated space, such as near a living room window. Rotate the pot regularly to prevent the floral spike from twisting.

How to care for them?

Once bulbs are forced in pots, they require proper care to ensure a beautiful flowering.

Water them regularly but sparingly, keeping the soil slightly moist without excess water to prevent root rot.

Place the pots in a bright location, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch. A stable temperature between 15–20°C is ideal for prolonging flowering. For bulbs like amaryllis, stake tall stems for support.

Lastly, remove faded flowers as they appear to encourage new blooms and prevent the plant from wasting energy.

After flowering, bulbs can be saved for future outdoor planting, but they’ll need a rest period and specific care.

How to force bulbs in a glass vase?

In shops, you can find forcing vases or hyacinth vases, equipped with a narrow neck that allows the bulb to remain suspended just above the water. It is also possible to use a small vase, a jar or any other transparent glass container, whose diameter matches that of the bulb. In this case, the growing medium is water.

• Place a piece of charcoal at the bottom of the vase to prevent the water from rotting and putrefying.
• Place the bulb in the vase with the tip facing upwards.
• Pour water into the vase until it reaches the base of the bulb, without actually touching it: leave 1 or 2 millimetres between the water’s surface and the base of the bulb.
• Place the setup outdoors or in a cool, frost-free spot.
• Maintain the water level carefully, ensuring it just reaches the base of the bulb. The roots develop at the base, along with small shoots at the top of the bulb.
• When the shoot reaches about 8 centimetres, the vase can be brought indoors, even into a slightly heated room, provided it is well-lit.
  

  Hyacinths forced in a vase

How to care for bulbs forced in a vase?

Caring for bulbs forced in a vase is fairly simple but requires some precautions to ensure beautiful flowering. Make sure the water remains just below the bulb, without directly touching it, to prevent rotting. Change the water regularly, about once a week, to maintain a clean environment and avoid bad odours or the proliferation of bacteria.

Place the vase in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight, which could scorch the young shoots. A moderate temperature, around 15 to 18°C, is ideal for steady and healthy growth. Once the roots are well-developed and the first stems appear, you can move the vase to a more prominent location to enjoy the flowering.

After flowering, as with potted bulbs, bulbs forced in a vase can be replanted outdoors or saved for the following year, but they will need a period of rest and specific care.