Spring dreams Bulbs brighten
cold and gloomy days of winter
Half the fun of
planting bulbs is watching them grow, especially if you can do it indoors when the winter
weather is frightful.
So think ``pots of bulbs'' when you are searching for holiday gifts to give gardeners
whose thumbs are just greening up or children who run into the garden each day to see
what's blooming.
To force or fool bulbs into blooming, they first need a few weeks of artificial
coolness in the refrigerator or an unheated garage or storeroom to simulate the cold -
below 48 degrees Fahrenheit - they naturally need outdoors. The low temperatures kick off
a bio-chemical reaction that starts the flowering process. Indoor forcing induces that
reaction artificially, says the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.
Daffodils, tulips, iris and crocus need anywhere from 10 to 15 weeks of cold time.
Amaryllis need no cold time and will bloom in six to eight weeks; paperwhites also need no
cold and will bloom in three to five weeks. Hyacinth bulbs marked ``pre-prepared'' or
``prechilled'' need 12 weeks of extra chilling time. But remember, April 12 is Easter, so
you could give pots of bulbs that will brighten the early spring days. And if you have had
extra bulbs chilling in the fridge or garage, you're ahead of the game.
HOLIDAY GIFTS
There are several ways you can go about assembling holiday gifts that will grow and
bloom after the recipient unties the bow and adds a little water:
Do-it-yourselfer kit - In a decorative basket, place an assortment of bulbs, potting
soil, a suitable pot and some decorative items such as moss, ivy, ribbon. You may want to
add a little extra something if you know the person's hobbies: porcelain bird for
bird-watchers, animal figurine for pet-lovers, tees and balls for golfers or cards for
bridge players. Be sure to tuck in a how-to brochure on bulbs; most garden centers offer
free information sheets or pamphlets.
Ready-made blooms - Garden centers with greenhouses and florists always have forced
blooms ready for giving at the holidays. You can give these wrapped as they come or use
them in a larger basket filled with other gardening needs: seeds, trowel and gloves. The
bulbs can later be planted outdoors for future enjoyment.
POTS FOR LATER BLOOMS
To fix pots of bulbs as gifts:
* Use regular flower pots or other containers with drainage holes.
* Add a layer of potting soil of two or more inches.
* Use as many bulbs as will fit in the container, then fill in with enough soil so just
the tops of the bulbs are visible, with the soil line about half an inch below the pot
rim.
* Water thoroughly. Wait two days, then water again.
* Piece a piece of tape with the date written on it on each pot.
* Place pots in refrigerators or dark cool place - 40-50 degrees F. - and wter
regularly for 10 to 15 weeks, depending on the bulb type and variety.
Cover the pots with an open plastic bag to reduce the need for watering. Two
``musts" to remember: keep the pots moist and do not store with fruit. Ripening fruit
gives off a gas that can damage the developing bulb flower.
When the cold period is over, move the pots to a warmer area in indirect or low light.
Keep them there for a week or two, then move them to a cool, sunny area where they should
flower in just two to three weeks. These directions printed on a recipe-type card can be
tucked into the pot of bulbs. |