Source: ezinearticles.com
The long winter months can drag on to what seem forever. Will spring, garages, ever arrive? Why not bring a promise of spring into your home all winter long. You, garages, can have beautiful tulips, daffodils and hyacinths blooming in every room by forcing spring flowering bulbs.
Spring flowering bulbs need to go through a cooling period before they can bloom in the spring. Those potted daffodils, garages, and tulips you see at garden centers in March have been forced to bloom, garages, . They were put in some type of cooler to trick them into blooming just as if they had gone through a winter freeze.
You don't need to buy forced bulbs, garages, at the store, you can do it yourself and it is so easy! Just follow a few simple steps and you will have indoor beauty all through the long, cold winter.
You can use a clay or plastic pot, garages, . The bulbs really don't care which. Clay pots will dry out faster, so that is one thing to keep in mind. Clay pots need to be soaked in water for several hours before using to make sure all the pores, garages, are sealed. If you go with plastic, you can cover it with cute basket or wrap it in layers of tulle for a springtime look.
Select high quality bulbs from your local garden center or mail order bulb distributor, garages, . Make sure you select good size, firm bulbs. Don't get bulbs that are soft, shriveled or sprouting. The highest quality bulbs yield the, garages,,, garages, garages, most beautiful blossoms!
Bulbs need good moisture and proper drainage to grow. Make a soil, garages, mix of equal parts peat moss, potting, garages, soil, sand and vermiculite, garages, or perlite. I like to mix my soil in a big bucket, adding water as I mix to make sure everything blends well.
Get your pot and place pieces of broken crockery, garages, or Styrofoam (I like to break up a Styrofoam cooler). This will help with drainage. Fill the pot halfway with your soil mixture and place your bulbs pointed end up in the pot. The bulbs should be close together, but not touching, garages,, garages, . Bulbs like tulips that have a flat side should have the flat side facing the edge of the pot; the first leaves will make a beautiful green border around the flowers. You can now finish filling the pot with, garages, soil and water thoroughly.
Place your pots in a, garages, cool, dark place. You want to trick the bulbs into thinking they are in the ground. A root cellar, cold frame or garage works great. If you need to you can cover the pots with a black plastic,, garages, garages, garbage bag or boxes to keep it dark., garages, You can also put the bulbs in the fridge. Just make sure they are covered so it, garages, is always dark. The ideal temperature is 34 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
Early bulbs such as crocus and daffodils should stay in cold storage for about 12 weeks, with tulips taking about 16 weeks. You can then bring the pots inside and put them in indirect light, keeping them moist and feeding them weekly. Turn the pots once a day so the stems will grow straight
It is fascinating to watch the blossoms unfold, bringing color and beauty into, garages, your home. By forcing bulbs for indoor blooming you can bring a touch of springtime to the long cold winter.
Tara enjoys gardening and spending time with her family. With her double baby jogging stroller she can take her kids almost anywhere. Tara has a website where she reviews double jogging strollers because she knows how important it is get the one that fits you best! Read her review on the Schwinn Jogging Stroller and other great strollers.
