Light up your home this Christmas with the sight and scent of bulbs. Hyacinths, amaryllis and fragrant narcissus all have a stunning effect when you bring them into flower in the depths of winter.
Start preparing in autumn for blooms over the Christmas period. Forcing bulbs to flower early can be tricky, but it’s worth it for the beautiful scent and rich, dramatic blooms.
How do I force bulbs for winter?
Bulbs know to flower outside because the soil warms up after a long winter. To force them, you will need to artificially create a cool, dark period to mimic winter, before bringing the bulbs into the house for ‘spring’ warmth.
The easiest way to do this is to buy special bulbs for forcing. These are labelled ‘prepared’ – hyacinths and Narcissus ‘Paperwhite’ are the most common varieties. These bulbs have been refrigerated for a long period and are ready to be forced into growth.
Hyacinths will flower 10 to 13 weeks from planting, depending on the variety. Narcissus Paperwhite takes 6 to 10 weeks. Always check the packet before you buy.
The exception is amaryllis, which comes from South America and does not need a cold winter. Simply plant the bulb in October and it will flower six to eight weeks later.
Forcing hyacinths in vases
The traditional method of forcing bulbs used specially designed glass vases that were popularised in Victorian times. You can still buy them from garden centres and homeware shops.
Start by filling the vase with water almost up to the neck. Sit the hyacinth bulb on the top so its base is almost touching the water, but not quite. Place the vase in a bright, warm spot. You may wish to wear gloves to handle hyacinths, as the bulbs can cause skin irritation.
The roots should begin to grow down towards the water. Keep the vase topped up with water and follow the growing instructions below.
Forcing bulbs in pots
Narcissus ‘Paperwhite’
Most people want to use pots to force bulbs. To start, cover the bottom of your pot with a layer of gravel. Drainage is very important with bulbs as they rot in waterlogged soil.
Half-fill your container with general purpose compost. Nestle your bulbs on the surface, pushing and twisting them into the compost to make sure there are no air holes underneath the bulb. Use the spacing advised on the packet. Cover with compost so just the tips of the bulbs are showing. Now gently water the planter.
Place the pots in a cool, dark place that is frost-free. You want something that is around 10C – a garage, cellar or dark shed is ideal. If there is too much ambient light, cover the pots with a black polythene bag.
Check on the pots regularly and top up with water if the compost feels dry.
Bringing the bulbs into flower
Keep an eye on your bulbs. Once the shoots are 4 to 5cm long, bring the pots indoors. First, keep them in a cool, bright spot to allow the leaves to go green. Then move to a bright, warm spot to bring them into flower.
Keep the bulbs well-watered. You can also stand pots on trays or saucers filled with gravel and a little water. This keeps the atmosphere around the leaves humid, especially important when central heating makes the air dry.
Make sure you place the pots in an area with a steady conditions. Bulbs are sensitive to temperature changes just like humans. Keep them away from draughts or radiators.
If the leaves begin to develop but there’s no sign of the flower buds, place the pots back in a cool spot and cover to keep dark. Do this only for one to two days, then return them to the warmth and light.
Make sure to rotate pots of amaryllis regularly. They grow towards the light, so keep turning the pot to ensure the stem grows straight.
You should soon see stunning flowers emerge and open up. Make sure to keep watering well to make the blooms last!
Aftercare
Do not attempt to force the same bulb more than once every few years or it will become weak and stop flowering. Allow the bulb to return to a normal cycle.
Hyacinths can be planted in the garden or in pots outside once the leaves have faded. Amaryllis should be fed and watered through until summer and then rested. It should be brought back into growth the following spring.
The exception is Narcissus Paperwhite, which is not hardy. Allow the leaves to go brown and then take the bulbs out of the pots and remove any soil. Store for replanting in containers in autumn.
Autumn is also the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in the garden! Here’s my 8 favourite varieties.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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