| Author | Content |
forcingflowers
Grifton, NC
(Zone 7b)
January 29, 2007
1:20 PM Post #3135247
| I am a newbie here and I love to force flowers.My DH thinks we are being overtaken by hyacinths and paperwhites.My hyacinths smell so good in the house.I am working on crocus and more hyacinths.I force mine in water.
Anybody else? |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 29, 2007
2:01 PM Post #3135355
| Forcingflowers: Welcome to Dave's Garden!
I'm pretty much a "Newbie" to DG myself, I just joined in October.
I have forced Paperwhites and Hyacinth's in water over the years. The only flowers I did this year are Amaryllis bulbs. It is a lot of fun to watch bulbs take root, sprout and bloom!
You will LOVE this "Garden" ... so many wonderful people with lots of great information!
Happy Gardening,
Lin
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fireant13
Mascotte, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 29, 2007
10:14 PM Post #3137017
| I don't know anything about forcing flowers, but I have a peace plant that has great foliage, but no flowers. It's been over a year since I've seen any. Do you have any suggestions for getting it to produce flower stalks?
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gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
January 29, 2007
10:43 PM Post #3137093
| When I saw your post, i started laughing...during November and December the house was full of amaryllis...now it is paperwhites...I just grow in rocks, a tad bit of soil on the top and lots of water. Look at this one growing in all directions at this point...paperwhites are so easy you can't mess up...i need all the help I can get and this one is easy.
You are the one who knows how to force...amaryllis and paperwhites are all i know
This message was edited Jan 29, 2007 10:45 PM
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plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 30, 2007
8:53 AM Post #3137890
| Fireant13: Right now, most plants are at a resting time (winter) so no flowers. I have a few Peace Lily's and I have used those little Miracle Grow or another brand I can't remember Plant Food Spikes for Flowering plants. You can find them at Wal-Mart. For small (6") pots, I use 2 or 3 in each pot. And, just water as needed ... you should see blooms in no time. None of mine are blooming right now, but in another month I will begin feeding them again and get blooms. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
January 30, 2007
9:39 AM Post #3138025
| thanks for the tip,Lin...that is why i won't buy Peace Lilies...can't make them bloom again...do you put those spikes in right after the plant quits blooming (they are all blooming when you buy them)? |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 30, 2007
9:47 AM Post #3138062
| Yes, you can put them in after they stop blooming, except in winter time, I let my plants rest for a couple of months. |
fireant13
Mascotte, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 30, 2007
7:52 PM Post #3139964
| Thanks for the advice. In about a month, I'll try the spikes. |
bbinnj
West Orange, NJ
(Zone 6a)
February 1, 2007
9:28 AM Post #3145119
| I love forcing them - paperwhites, hyacinths, amaryllis, but my KIDS claim to be allergic to whatever I force. I say claim because when i grow them outside, I hear no complaints. |
forcingflowers
Grifton, NC
(Zone 7b)
February 4, 2007
5:39 PM Post #3157534
| Glad to meet you all.Being a newbie I am somewhat lost.Anybody have luck forcing tulips?
Thank you for the welcome.. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
6:08 PM Post #3157618
| I don't know how to force tulips...wish I Knew..but look at these paperwhites just since I posted on the 29th of Jan. No wonder I like to force...get instant results...hope someone out there tells us how to force tulips. 
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fireant13
Mascotte, FL
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
10:51 PM Post #3158390
| They are beautiful. Exactly how do you force them? |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 4, 2007
11:09 PM Post #3158449
| Firstly I usually buy them in December in any of the nurseries...place them in a brown bag in the refrigerator. Then I find any container like the depth of a bulb pan...and start in Dec. jan. or Feb...put nothing but some kind of pebbles or clean rocks (I have actual black ones in this because I couldn't find another color from a vase I had used) up to depth of about 2 inches...then you can either just put wet spagnum moss on the top, fill up the container with water and let the bulbs just sit on top of the water. The roots will grab down to the water immediately. Since I didn't have any moss on hand, I used a soil-less mix that I had for the paperwhites to sit on the damp soil...you can go for water only.(but never let the bulb actually sit in water itself...only the roots)...doesn't make a difference...put in a east or south window. The fragrance is terrific, but get ready...you may be moving it to another room once it is in full bloom. (always stick your finger down to see that the water level stays pretty steady and add what you need as they grow) |
greenkat
Crofton, MD
(Zone 7a)
February 6, 2007
9:37 AM Post #3162788
| I was wondering about the longevity of forced bulbs. Do you only use them once? Seems to me they would need to be potted up and fed some Miracle Grow Bloom Booster or something like that to bloom the following year. Just a thought. |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 6, 2007
10:12 AM Post #3162898
| I should keep mine, but I usually don't...I would guess that the best way to have them the next year is to either put them in the ground somewhere with plenty of bonemeal and bloodmeal in the soil to let them build up for the next year...the paper white can be pricey...thanks for the good ideal |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 9, 2007
9:40 AM Post #3171906
| Ok...last pic of paperwhite in full bloom...smells mighty good around here... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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greenkat
Crofton, MD
(Zone 7a)
February 9, 2007
10:22 AM Post #3172039
| Simply gorgeous, Bettygail! |
Allison_FL
Dunedin, FL
(Zone 10b)
February 9, 2007
4:20 PM Post #3173080
| WOW gorgeous, Bettygail! |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 9, 2007
9:43 PM Post #3173859
| hello everyone (Allison, too)...I just sneaked in the last two days...can't stay away from DG!!!! |
gardengus
Flora, IN
(Zone 5a)
February 11, 2007
10:58 PM Post #3180311
| The answer to forcing tulips ,you have to pot them in soil then give them 4-6 weeks of cold 6weeks is better some will do ok in 4 then bring inside and give them the most sun you can. Sorry to say it's probably to late for this year |
gessiegail
Taft, TX
(Zone 9a)
February 18, 2007
11:23 PM Post #3203800
| I just wish I knew where to plant these bulbs so that i could use them again next year...2.00 a pop gets expensive...why couldn't I plant them in an old pot with bone meal and blood meal...and let them build up energy for next year...and just let the foliage die back like other bulbs???????????? |
kator
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 8a)
March 11, 2007
6:59 PM Post #3271632
| Hi to all.
I have forced tulips in previous years here in Georgia by doing the same thing I do to prepare tulips for outdoor planting here - put the bulbs in a refrigerator for at least 8 weeks -sometimes more. No, they don't smell, in case you're worried! Then I take most tulips and plant them outdoors, but I take a few bulbs and put in pots for inside blooming, placed in a sunny window. It works.
This past fall I actually bought a dorm-size refrigerator just for my bulbs. |
sallyg
Anne Arundel Co., MD
(Zone 7a)
March 16, 2007
5:49 AM Post #3287395
| betty- please try it and let us know. you could add that to PlantFiles. (if not already in there...) |
rlaWestTX
Midland, TX
March 20, 2007
12:43 PM Post #3302499
| If I want to just grow bulbs in pots - having them bloom at the normal times, just moveable - is that "forcing" or can I just treat them like they are in the ground?
Thanks!!! |
