Learn more about forcing bulbs indoors for Christmas to have beautiful blooms during the coldest time of the year. Knowing how to force bulbs indoors for Christmas brings colour and life into your home during the winter. However, it will need some preparation and planning.
The cold and rainy days of December can drive even the hardiest gardeners inside. However, learning how to force bulbs inside for Christmas is perfect for adding festive cheer to your decor.
How to Force Bulbs Inside for Christmas
Learning how to force bulbs indoors for Christmas is more challenging as it is more time-sensitive. Forcing bulbs indoors for Christmas is perfect for adding festive cheer to your Christmas door decor ideas. To avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you stagger your plants eight weeks before Christmas.
Purchase Your Bulbs
Look for bulbs designed for forcing. Keep an eye out for terms like prepared, forced, or narcissus on the packaging. There are lots of different bulbs you can choose to force for Christmas. Some of these include Hyacinths, Daffodils, Tulips and Snowdrops.
Soak Your Bulbs
Some gardeners believe that soaking your bulbs in a bowl or bucket of water for 12-24 hours speeds up the process of waking them up.
Plant your bulbs
Choose a pot that has good drainage. Cover with more potting mix until the tips are just visible above ground. Water the container well and place it in a cool, dark place.
Chill Your Bulbs
You will need to chill your bulbs in August before they start to grow. Keep them at a temperature between 34.7°F and 50°F in a cupboard, shed, or garage. This makes the bulb think it is winter and stimulates a biochemical response.
Most bulbs need 10 to 15 weeks in the cold to flower well when forcing them inside for Christmas.
Place in a Warmer Place and Display
Once your bulbs have had their cool period, bring them in somewhere warmer as they will quickly sprout and bloom. If you have chilled your bulbs in the fridge, make sure to transfer them into a pot before placing them in a warmer area. Your bulbs will think that spring has arrived, resulting in beautiful blooms in time for Christmas.
Forcing Prepared Bulbs Inside for Christmas
You also have the choice to buy ready-prepared bulbs. Prepared bulbs have been pre-chilled. Your choice will be more limited, however, as there will be fewer available.
Hyacinths are commonly prepared, for example. Plant prepared bulbs as soon as possible, or keep them somewhere cool and dark.
How to grow waxed bulbs for Christmas?
Waxed bulbs have been dipped in wax which contains the moisture and heat they need to grow. There are plenty of different varieties, hyacinths are the most common, for example.
All waxed bulbs require is sunlight. Purchase your bulb and place them on a sunny windowsill for it to grow within three to six weeks.
