We have found that forcing bulbs indoors in water throughout the winter is a great delight. They are easy to grow and an excellent source of bloom to extend the gardening season beyond the last chrysanthemum up to the first crocus or even longer.
With a little forethought as to blooming dates, succession and even a variety of flowers can easily be had from fall to spring.
Dutch Hyacinths: A Magnificent Indoor Bloom
The Dutch hyacinth is one of the finest items for flowering indoors in water. Our grandmothers talked of “hyacinths in glasses” and cherished them for their magnificent bloom during the dull, dreary days -before spring burst forth outdoors.
Dutch hyacinths are suitable for forcing and are again being offered, as well as a variety of containers for holding them, even gadgets for keeping bulbs upright in ordinary glasses or jars.
Department stores and garden centers also feature sets that include one or more bulbs with special “hyacinth” glasses.
The most favorable time to start Dutch hyacinth bulbs indoors is from December 1 to February 15. First, prepare the bulb by removing loose skin and any remaining roots and carefully brushing off any dirt or dust.
If any such material should remain on the bulb, it might cause it to rot and ruin the planting. This cleaning is a very important step in hyacinth culture in water and one which is frequently neglected.
Then, fill the glasses with water up to the neck and place the bulbs in a position with the water up to but not quite touching the base.
Preparing Hyacinth Bulbs For Water Culture
The glasses are then set in a very cool, completely dark place: a cupboard in an unheated room or a really cold basement or cellar, just so the temperature is above freezing (because of the glasses, not the bulbs). We found a suitable cupboard with an outside wall in an unused room.
The bulbs were placed far back on a dark shelf as close to the wall as possible, and the cupboard door left open a crack for ventilation.
Occasionally, a teaspoonful or so of water was added to the glass to maintain the proper level, but never letting the water touch the bulb.
Bringing Hyacinths Into The Light
Before the planting is moved into light, it should have good root growth and foliage and spike development.
When the tops are growing well and the flower bud is seen, it is a temptation to hasten blooming, which often results in complete failure.
Six to eight weeks are required for bulbs to develop sufficiently to be moved into light and warmth.
The foliage should measure not less than 4 inches, preferably 4 ⅕” to 5” inches, before the glasses are ready to be moved.
We prefer the foliage to measure at least 5 inches before moving to a bright but not too warm room that is out of direct sunlight.
After they are brought into the light, it is fascinating to watch the deep green creep into the leaves that are pale yellow from the dark in the beginning.
In a day, the growth looks like health and color, and the faintest tint of floret color may also be noticed. From then on, growth and color come rapidly.
The following data might be helpful in flowering hyacinths for specific dates:
| Bulbs started | December 31 |
| Brought into the light | February 23 |
| Showing color | February 24 |
| The first floret bloomed | February 25 |
| Spike in full bloom | February 27 |
| Bloom lasted until | March 7 |
French Roman Hyacinths
Much daintier and smaller than Dutch hyacinths, French Roman hyacinths are delightful small bulbs for growing in water.
They frequently have several slender flowering stalks to a bulb, and the flowers are widely spaced, long-lasting, and have an enticing perfume.
The bulbs are set in a bowl or similar container and are held in place by crystal marbles, pearl chips, smooth white pebbles, bulb fiber, or vermiculite.
Our favorite container for these is an antique preserve or candy dish with fluted sides and a footed stem.
French Roman hyacinths are now listed in white, blue, and pink. The white variety is particularly appealing and is much prized for Christmas flowering.
They may be started any time, as soon as available in the fall, and as late as sound bulbs can be secured in winter. Depending on the size of the dish or bowl, six to a dozen or more bulbs may be planted together.
Eight weeks or so is required from start to bloom. Keep the planting in a cool, dark, but well-ventilated place until bulbs are well-rooted. Then, move into light, but not sunlight, and keep as cool as possible until buds show.
The white variety will bloom in less time than the others. We started some bulbs on September 29, which bloomed on November 11.
Paperwhite Narcissus
Paperwhite narcissus are the obvious choice for indoor forcing in water since they are widely available and not, however, always of the best quality. Bargain bulbs are not advocated as they may be poor, disappointing, and not worth the trouble.
For success and pleasure in the results, top-size French-grown bulbs of fine quality will be found well worth the price difference. This holds with any indoor-flowering items.
Paperwhite narcissus can be most decorative when well grown, with tall, slim foliage and starry white, fragrant flowers.
They can start from October 1 to March 1, the most ideal period being from October 15 to November 15. Plantings made at intervals of ten days will give a succession of blooms.
In addition to water, paperwhites may also be grown in sand, gravel, or pebbles; 1 or 2 inches of whatever material is chosen, and water to cover no more than the lower third of the bulb.
If either built fiber or vermiculite is used, it must be kept damp but not too wet until bulbs are well rooted.
After planting, bulbs are set in a cool, dark place for two weeks for root development, then brought into a light, cool place for flowering—overheated rooms and strong sunlight are to be avoided. Ordinarily, it takes from eight to ten weeks for flowering.
After flowering, the bulbs are best discarded. A large paperwhite, Grandiflora, is now being listed, and a named variety, Giant Grand Monarch, has clusters of creamy, white flowers with yellow centers.
Grand Soleil d’Or
Similar to the paperwhite narcissus is Grand Soleil d’Or, sometimes called the golden narcissus for its rich yellow blooms with orange cups. Culture for Grand Soleil d’Ors is the same as for paperwhites.
The Chinese sacred lily, more commonly known as the joss flower, is white with a yellow cup also flowering in clusters.
This is a fine source of holiday flowers but needs to be in cool, moist growing conditions to prevent blind and yellowed growth.
Lilies of The Valley
Lilies of the valley are a great joy to us whether grown indoors in the winter or in the garden in spring. They are nut-grown front bulbs, however, but from pips, which are imported from Europe and kept in cold storage.
Only the highest quality lily-of-the-valley pips are advised for indoor forcing. These are readily available from nurserymen and florists, with one concern offering delivery as early as September 15 and as late as April 1. After January 1, though. shipment of cold storage pips is discontinued, and freshly dug ones substituted.
Since cold storage pips will not be kept, they should be started as soon as received. They may be grown in any sort of container in proportion to their size – a 7- or 8-inch bowl will hold as many as 20 to 25 pips—with damp sphagnum moss or vermiculite as the preferred growing mediums.
It is best to start them cool, around 65°, shading the entire planting from tight.
When foliage and spikes have developed, light is admitted gradually, and the temperature increases to 75° or 80° degrees Fahrenheit.
At this stage, the bowl may be moved to a light room but not in direct sunlight. Here, they will flower and last well.
Timing of Planting
Pips started from September 15 to December. I will bloom in 18 to 21 days. Pips dug and shipped after January 1 will take four or five weeks to flower, but the length of time decreases as the season advances.
A succession of plantings will provide a continuous supply of flowers for small arrangements and delicate corsages.
Flowering bulbs indoors during the winter rewards the grower and provides him with charming and unusual gifts for friends.
44659 by Mary C. Seckman