There are several methods of growing bulbs indoors. The simplest is by growing in water.
Hyacinths and paperwhite narcissus are very often grown in this way. On the market, there are special glasses for treating hyacinths in this manner.
The bottom of the glass is filled with water, a little charcoal is added to keep it sweet, and the bulb is set in place in the glass.
The water level should be just below the bulb’s base, and the roots will be drawn to the water.
The glass is kept in a cool, dark place for several weeks until the roots are at least two or three inches long. Then, it is brought into a cool room and kept out of the strong sun until the leaves that have developed turn green. Then the sunlight and heat may be increased.
The paperwhite narcissus is grown with several bulbs in a dish, and pebbles support the bulbs.
The results from this method of growing are almost as good as from bulbs grown in soil. The bulbs use the stored food, thus becoming exhausted and worthless.
Method of Growing With Peat or Fiber
Another method of growing is with peat or fiber. Care must be taken, however, not to have this material too wet. Otherwise, the bulbs will decay.
Moisten so that water will drip from the material when squeezed in the hand. Using a watertight container, place a layer of one-half inch of charcoal in the bottom and then a layer of prepared peat or fiber over this.
The depth of the layer will more or less depend on the depth of the container. Place the bulbs on the peat or fiber so that the tops of the bulbs will be just below the rim of the container.
Set the bulbs about half an inch apart and then fill in the space between the bulbs with the peat or fiber, tamping it in well, almost to the tops of the bulbs.
After the bulbs are placed, water gradually until the fiber or peat has absorbed all of the water it will take up, then carefully tip up and drain off any surplus water.
The containers are then placed in a cool, dark place where there is no danger of freezing for several weeks until the root systems have become well established.
Then, they are brought to a cool, lightroom away from the sun’s direct rays. After the tops become green, they may be moved into sunlight and warmer temperatures.
Do not overwater, and the peat should be just on the damp side. Otherwise, your bulbs are liable to decay.
Hyacinths, narcissus, and crocus do well when grown in peat or fiber. If growing crocus, it is best to remember that they should be kept cool for best results.
Bulbs planted under this method may also be stored outdoors until the root systems have become well established, and this is the most satisfactory way of starting them.
The most widely used method in growing tulips, narcissus, and hyacinths is in pots or pans, with a soil prepared suited to the particular bulbs to be grown.
Plant the bulbs as soon as received in pots or bulb pans from four to eight inches in diameter, allowing from one to 10 bulbs per pan, depending on their size. Water thoroughly and place where they will remain cool until the root systems are developed.
Cold Frame
A cold frame or special space in the garden may be prepared for storing the pots or pans of bulbs.
Dig a trench about 10” inches deep. Set the pans in this trench and place a thin layer of sand or cinders over the tops of the pans.
Then, cover the whole with several inches of soil, being sure to get it between the pots. Then, cover this with leaves or hay to keep from freezing.
The pans can be left until they are needed without any further care and can be dug up whenever they are needed.
It is best to line them up in the trench so that the ones wanted first will be at the end of the trench.
After digging, bring into a cool room or place under the greenhouse benches in a cool house at about 50° degrees Fahrenheit.
After the foliage has turned green and growth starts, they may be given more light and 60° to 75° degrees Fahrenheit of heat.
In the case of hyacinths, keeping them under the benches a little longer or tying a sheet of paper around the pot, forming a cone to bring up the bud.
They tend to flower deep down in the foliage, where some of the flowers will be lost.
Potting Mixtures
The following potting mixtures are considered good for particular bulbs. For narcissus and daffodils, use equal parts of sand, loam, and leaf mold and about one quart of bone meal to a bushel of this soil. Avoid animal manure unless it is very old and decayed.
For tulips, use two parts of loam, one part of decayed cow manure and other humus, and about a quart of bone meal per bushel of soil.
The above will also do for hyacinths. When planting the tulip bulbs, place the flat side of the bulb towards the rim of the pan. This side usually develops the broad flower leaf.
Forcing Bulbs
Among the daffodil varieties used for forcing are:
- King Alfred, the most popular
- Golden Harvest
- Lord Wellington
- Magnificence
- Winter Gold
- Youth are also recommended for yellow trumpet varieties
For bicolor trumpets, use:
- Oliver Cromwell
- Victoria
- President Lebrun; white trumpets
- Beersheba
- Imperator
- Mrs. Ernest H. Krelage
Large-cupped narcissi:
- Copper Bowl
- Blazing Sword
- Fortune
- Monte Carlo
- Clamor
- Dick Wellbrand
- Orange Flag
- Warlock
- White Nile
Small-cupped:
- Bonfire
- Tredore
- Firetail
- La Riante
- Therapia
Double narcissi:
- Irene Copeland
- Mary Copeland
- Twink
- Texas
Among others:
- Thalia
- Worm rugulose
- Geranium
- Laurens Koster
- Scarlet Gem
- W. P. Milner
Among the hyacinths:
- Bismarck
- City of Haarlem
- Distinction
- Duke of Westminster
- Edelweiss
- Grand Maitre
- Jan Bos
- King of the Blues
- Lady Derby
- L’Innocence
- Lord Balfour
- Myosotis
- Ostara
- Pink Pearl
- Queen of the Whites is considered good forcer.
There are so many tulips that only a few of the more popular forcers can be given.
Darwin:
- Clara Butt
- Avanti
- Bartigon
- Demeter
- Unsurpassable
- Golden Age
- Glacier
- Niphetos
- Mrs. Grullemans
- Lady Hillingdon
- Pride of Haarlem
- Prunus
- Rose Copeland
- Utopia
- Scarlet Leader
Breeder:
- Bacchus
- Louis XIV
- Orange Delight
- Peer Gynt
- Southern Cross
- William the Silent
Cottage:
- Magnolia
- Marshall Haig
- Lemon Queen
- Grenadier
- Barbara Pratt
- Annie Laurie
- Mazeppa
- Mongolia
- Mrs. John T. Scheepers
- Rosabella
- Zomerschoon
Single Early Tulips:
- Apricot Yellow
- Brilliant Star
- Crown Imperial
- De Wet
- King of the Yellows
- Fred Moore
- Yellow Prince
- Rising Sun
- Pelican
- Sunburst
Double Early Tulips:
- Couronne d’Or
- Peach Blossom
- Murillo
- John Vermeer
- Dante
- El Toreador
- Tea Rose
- Scarlet Cardinal
Mendel Tulips:
- Zenober
- Brahms
- Maisonette
- White Sail
- Van der Eerde
- Brightling
- Delice
- Early Queen
- Her Grace
- John Gay
- Krelage’s Triumph
- Orange Wonder
- Pink Gem
When buying bulbs for planting indoors, always get top-sized bulbs for the best results.
44659 by Arthur Pautzsch