Forcing Flower Bulbs

Escape the winter doldrums by forcing vibrant blooms indoors from bulbs

Forcing flower bulbs for indoor blooms can be a fun hobby that will produce beautiful dividends!

Bulbs that you wish to bloom inside the home can be planted in earthenware, plastic or glass pots. Just make sure they are at least 4" deep and that the pot has a drainage hole. We also recommend using a medium potting soil.

Cold Period

To obtain a suitable result, it is absolutely necessary that the bulbs spend 13-15 weeks in a cold (approximately 48 degrees) environment. This should preferably be a dark environment, although it's not crucial. If you do not have a cool room available, the pots can be buried in the garden for the indicated length of time, provided it isn't too wet.

If you do not provide the bulbs with a sufficiently long cold period, the flowers will have short stems, while a cold period that is too long will produce plants that are too tall.

Planting

Planting times last from early September until December. The earlier you plant the bulbs, the earlier they will bloom. After the cold treatment, you should put the bulbs in a warm room. It will be another 2 to 3 weeks before the flowers will be in full bloom. Amaryllis and Paperwhite bulbs do not require a cold treatment and can be put in a warm location immediately after purchase.

Step-By-Step

1. Choose a pot that will accommodate several bulbs comfortably. Place some Pro-Mix on the bottom to provide better drainage.
2. Partially fill the pot with soil and press it down slightly. Then press the bulbs lightly into the soil. They may be allowed to almost touch one another. With tulips, arrange them so that the flat sides of their bulbs face the wall of the pot.
3. Continue to fill the pot with soil so that the "noses" of the bulbs disappear under the soil surface. Sprinkle generously with water to encourage rooting.
4. Provide the planted flower bulbs with the required cold period. As soon as the flower bud has emerged from the bulb, the pots can be placed in a warm location.

Choosing a Bird Feeder

Attracting the best birds starts with selecting the right feeder

Any bird feeding endeavor begins with selecting the appropriate feeder. With many varieties to choose from, it's important to determine what kinds of birds you're interested in attracting and where you're planning on placing the feeder. Here's a brief rundown of three of our most popular feeders and what to expect from them:

Sunflower-Seed Tube Feeders

If you are going to put out just one feeder, this is your best choice. A model with metal ports around the seed dispensers is best, as it will protect from nibbling squirrels and house sparrows. Hang the feeder at least five feet off the ground and try to position it near a window where you can enjoy the visitors, which are likely to include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, siskins and purple and house finches.

Suet Feeder

Suet is popular with titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. While you can hang suet chunks in a mesh onion bag, you can also purchase cage feeders. Suet feeders can be hung from trees, from poles near other feeders, or from a wire stretched between trees. Avoid feeding suet when temperatures rise into the 80-degree range, as it can turn rancid.

Thistle (Nyjer) Feeder

Especially designed to dispense thistle (nyjer) seed, these feeders have tiny holes that make the seed available only to small-beaked finches such as goldfinches, redpolls and pine siskins. Hang your thistle feeder from a tree or place it on a five-foot pole near other feeders. Squirrel baffles will help to protect the feeder.

For more information on any of these feeders, please visit our garden emporium which is packed with all the supplies you'll need to enjoy your backyard birds all season long.