Forcing Bulbs

Strangely enough, at this time of year, as things turn more and more drab outside, we seem to have more blooms inside our house than any other season. (I'll talk in a week or so about one of my favorite (and easiest) houseplants, Christmas cactus.) One of the ways we accomplish it is by "forcing" bulbs. Both amaryllis and narcissus. They add great color (and a wonderful aroma) to our kitchen window.

Amaryllis are absolutely stunning flowers. Huge, trumpet-shaped blooms unfurl atop green columns of stems almost a foot high. They bloom on all sides so are pretty all the way around. For years, I forced amaryllis in small pots with the idea that I could follow the instructions and get them to bloom again the next year. Now, I have a thumb as green as anyone, but have given up on the complicated process. It's much easier to spend $3-5 on a bulb, enjoy its beauty for several weeks and then discard. (I do usually move mine into large pots on the back deck after they've bloomed--just for their great strap-leafed foilage.)

So, I take a glass container (have had great luck with simple globe or square glass vases you can buy cheaply at craft stores) and put some river rock in the bottom. (If your container is clear, it's nice to see the rocks or pebbles you use.) Nestle the bulb in the rocks and add an inch or so of water. That's all it takes. The roots will take in the water and the bulb will send up a flower stalk. In six weeks or so, it will be in full glorious bloom and will stay that way for several weeks.

If you start now, you should have amaryllis blooming just in time for Christmas. I like to stagger things and start a bulb every three weeks or so; will keep blooms going continuously for a month or two.

Another good bulb to force is narcissus, commonly known as paperwhites. Also easy to find, they can be put in small bud vases or several in a shallow bowl lined with gravel or rocks. Again, add a little water and sit back and enjoy. With narcissus, you'll be treated to a wonderfully sweet fragrance as well. It's a bit of early spring indoors. And you can plant these outside when they've finished blooming...they'll come back year after year.