Forcing Narcissi in My Greenhouse
You don't have to wait until spring to enjoy the fragrance and beauty of springtime blooms - just force some bulbs indoors.
Forcing is the process of speeding up a bulb’s development by simulating the conditions of winter and spring - it's a way of fooling Mother Nature and tricking the bulb to bloom before its natural time. Not long ago, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, planted five separate containers of narcissi using gravel we already had at the farm. I can’t wait to see these beautiful flowers open.
Here are some photos of this very simple process - enjoy.
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- Any waterproof container can be used for forcing bulbs – just be sure there is about four-inches of space below the bulbs to accommodate root growth.
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- One of the earliest paperwhites to bloom, Narcissus papyraceus ‘Ziva’, is a sweetly scented daffodil with large clusters of pure white flowers.
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- We are also forcing other small-cupped daffodils from Colorblends Flower Bulbs – a third generation wholesale flower merchant in nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut. Select bulbs that are recommended for forcing. Other bulbs that can be forced include tulips, crocus and hyacinths.
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- There are two types of bulbs for indoor growing: those you need to chill and those you don’t. These bulbs do not need chilling. These can either be forced using soil or by using gravel and water.
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- Ryan fills the pots with clean pebbles, up to an inch from the top.
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- If you force bulbs with gravel, any drainage holes at the bottom of the pot should be closed.
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- Ryan levels the gravel bed in the bowls, so the bulbs will grow uniformly.
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- And then one by one, Ryan places the bulbs on top of the pebbles, point up, next to one another. Don’t worry about crowding – the more the merrier.
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- Paperwhites grow easily in well-drained gravel, good daylight, and temperatures ranging between 60-degrees and 65-degrees Fahrenheit. A room that is too warm may result in leggy plants that topple easily.
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- Ryan gently pushes each bulb down into the gravel. I had enough bulbs to place about 25 in each vessel. The daffodil or narcissus is native to the Mediterranean area, central Asia and China. The most common narcissus species growing in North America were brought from Europe by the early colonists.
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- And they all fit perfectly. These bulbs will hold one another upright and provide maximum bloom. Any bulbs used for forcing should be dense and heavy and free from mold, mildew, discoloration, or a peeling outer shell.
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- Weigh down the bulbs with another layer of pebbles or stones, leaving the tips and necks of the bulbs exposed.
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- Our ever-friendly greenhouse kitty, Blackie, doesn’t seem too interested in this project.
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- Ryan fills another bowl with darker gravel. I like to use natural pebbles, such as pea stone or river rocks, but colored glass or decorative stones also work – so does gravel from your driveway. Just be sure it is well cleaned before placed in the container.
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- And once again, Ryan positions each bulb closely to the next, filling the container. When forcing, be sure to consider how much rest time you’ll need to allow for the bulbs to bloom.
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- The necks of the bulbs should level with the rim of the pot.
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- Another 25-bulbs fit perfectly in this bowl.
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- Ryan adds some more gravel to secure the bulbs.
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- These bulbs are now ready for water. Add enough water to just reach the bottom of the bulbs themselves – don’t let them sit deep in water or they will rot.
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- These bulbs will stay in a dimply lit part of my greenhouse until they begin to grow. Then they’ll be moved to a sunnier location until they begin to open. Once the flowers form, these will be moved out of direct sunlight to prevent the flowers from fading too quickly – I’ll be sure to share photos. Tomorrow, I’ll share images of my Thanksgiving preparations. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
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