You don’t have to wait until spring to enjoy gorgeous flowering bulbs. All you have to do is force some bulbs to bloom indoors. Forcing bulbs to bloom simply means inducing them to bloom when you want them and not when they are suppose to during their normal stage. Most bulbs go dormant in late summer with very little roots or shoot growth but as the weather changes and temperatures get cool, the bulbs automatically begin to grow and this process continues until the weather gets very cold.

When the weather changes in the spring and temperatures begin to rise, shoot growth starts again and this pattern continues until the bulbs flower. Once the foliage starts to die back, the bulbs return to a dormant state. So what does this mean? In simple words, by forcing bulbs to bloom indoors means that you basically manipulate their normal cycle.

You can basically choose any type of bulb to bloom indoors but the most popular ones are tulips, narcissus, crocuses and hyacinths. And don’t think that you need special containers to force bulbs to bloom. Just about any container is adequate for most bulbs and some garden stores do sell specially designed vases for forcing individual hyacinths. Bulbs like paperwhite narcissus can be forced to bloom in a simple shallow container of water and adding pebbles for support. It is that easy!

Choosing the best type of soil mix for forcing bulbs is very important. It is best if the mix contains equal parts of moss, perlite and spaghnum. Do not use regular potting soil that you buy in the store as that type of soil mostly contain just peat moss. Once you have your soil mix ready, fill about three quarters of a container with the mix. Place bulbs closely together on top of the soil and once this is done, add more soil mix around them. Be careful not to fill the container to the top as some bulbs like narcissus and tulips don’t need to be completely covered. Water your newly planted bulbs but don’t drown them. Watch the video below (courtesy of youtube) for more information.

 

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Flower Gardening - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com
Flower Power: Keeping Them Alive Longer - CBS News
Flower Gardening: Understand the Basic Needs of Orchids
AOL.com Video - 30 Minute Flower Garden
FLOWER GARDENING - University of Illinois Extension
December in the garden: Everything you need ... - Los Angeles Times

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When we think about bulbs, we immediately think tulips but there are many varieties of bulbs that you can plant in your garden. Yes, tulips are a much loved flower that most people like and enjoy but if you want an awesome display of gorgeous flowers plant different varieties of bulbs. The beauty of planting bulbs is that once you plant them they will come back every year so it is cost effective and saves you lots of time.

 

If you are new to planting bulbs, here is a list of some of my favorites and some of the most beloved bulbs that you can plant. Fist, watch this quick video, courtesy of youtube:

Gladiolus

This type of bulb you can plant in mid-spring and continue planting more until about mid-July. And yes, you will get flowers all summer long. Bulbs that are planted in the spring require that you lift them up in the fall and store for protection. But you can also get hardy gladiolus and you can plant these in the fall for late spring to early summer blooming. With hardy gladiolus, there is no need to lift them in the fall but you will need to mulch over the winter months for protection.

Crocus

There are many species of crocus so do some research before buying some. These are known for being one of first spring flower to appear in your garden even when snow is still in the ground. Plant crocus in the fall in an area that gets some sun and part shade.

Alliums

These are very easy to grow and adapt well to any type of soil. Alliums are great because they continue giving you color in your garden way after the spring flowering bulbs begin to fade. Keep them in your garden while waiting for summer flowers to appear. By the way, alliums also make great dried flower arrangements.

Iris

This is one of my favorite bulbs and the Dutch iris should be planted in early fall. The bearded iris should be planted from July through September in order to allow enough time for the flowers to become established before the winter months arrive. The Japanese iris likes sunny locations and also high soil moisture so be sure to feed it throughout the growth period.

Hyacinths

Another favorite of mine and it belongs to the lily family. Hyacinths are very fragrant and easy to grow. For an awesome look in your garden, plant hyacinths near tulips, pansies, primroses and daffodils. These are also very easy to grow in pots and you can force them to grow and bloom indoors. Once you get flowers from your hyacinths indoors, be sure to transplant it into your garden.

Daffodils

Love these! Daffodils are known for being easy to grow and blooming for many years with little care and maintenance. These can be planted anywhere like hillsides, near trees, and empty fields. Just throw a whole bunch of daffodil bulbs in an area and wherever they land, plant them. They will come back every year and bloom beautifully.

Tulips

Everyone’s favorite! Perennial tulips are very special because they will come back every year. So when buying tulip bulbs, do look for the perennial ones and not a hybrid so you can have them for years to come. This is another bulb that can be grown in containers indoors. Just follow the instructions that come with your bulb purchase. Many gardeners plant their tulip bulbs in November in full sun but do follow instructions for best results.

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Twitter / @edsalvato/Flower-gardening
BBC - Gardening
Queen Elizabeth of England Seeking Royal Gardener - ABC News
BBC - Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - Times Eureka Garden - Marcus ...
GROWING ROOFTOP CONTAINER GARDENS Master gardener ...
Primrose | Define Primrose at Dictionary.com

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As I mentioned on my previous article about spring bulbs, you have until the first frost in your area to plant them. If you ordered and received your desired bulbs, it is time to plant them. You will notice that the bulbs you receive will be dormant which is normal but you should plant them right away in your garden. If you cannot plant them as soon as possible, open the package they came in and let them get some air, place them in an area without direct sunlight and make sure the room is cool at all times. Another idea is to place them in the fridge until you are ready to plant them.

Nutrient rich soil is essential for your bulbs to thrive but make sure there is good drainage also. Although bulbs, like any other perennial, need lots of water it is necessary for the soil to drain properly. Take a good look at the soil in your garden and if you see water that just sits there add some more soil to the area. You can also put in a layer of gravel below the surface of the soil to promote good drainage. All of this can be done for your spring flowering bulbs but summer blooming ones are not really fussy about the soil as long as the soil is loose and has enough nutrients to help the bulbs thrive.

One of the questions most people ask when planting bulbs for the first time is which end of the bulb goes up. If the bulbs you ordered have pointed tips, or sprouts on the upper sides, (tulips, daffodils, tubers and rhizomes are included here) be sure to plant them with the tips or sprouts on top facing upward. It is through those tips or sprouts that the plants begin to grow. If you purchased bulbs like anemones or poppy, you will notice that the bulbs are much smaller and don’t really have a tip or sprout. These bulbs can be planted in any direction. Watch this youtube video to see how easy it is to plant bulbs.

Many gardeners believe that planting bulbs in masses is the best method for outstanding results. I do agree with that theory because planting them in masses gives you a gorgeous display of flowers when in full bloom. Survey your garden area and space bulbs according to their size. For example, tulips and daffodils are considered large bulbs and should be spaced at least 3 to 6 inches apart. If you have small bulbs like snowdrops or crocus, space them 1 to 2 inches apart. If you are trying mass planting for an entire bed, you can spade the whole area and then dig out at least 8” of soil from the bed.

Once your bulbs are planted, be sure to water them as this will help the soil to settle and provide moisture. One thing to remember is that bulbs that are planted in the fall must root before cold weather hits your area. It is recommended that you plant your bulbs when the soil temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of about 6 inches. Place the bulbs on top of the bed and cover them with soil. You can also plant small groups of bulbs by simply using a garden tool like a trowel and digging a hole a bit larger than the bulb and covering it with soil. For best results, do read the instructions that come with your bulbs!

 

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Simple Guide To Rose Gardening
Places to dig a spring flower show - USATODAY.com
Springtime Outdoor Flower Gardening For Beginners
Twitter / @edsalvato/Flower-gardening
BBC - Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - List of show gardens with awards
Flower gardening? - Yahoo! Answers

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Did you know that you can plant bulbs to flower throughout the whole year? Yes you can! Planning ahead of time how you want your garden to look will allow you to plant bulbs based on their blooming time. This should be your first consideration when planning your bulb garden. Just give it some thought as to when you would like to see the most flowers during the year and buy bulbs accordingly.

Daffodils, hyacinths, snowdrops and crocus are spring flowering bulbs that are considered hardy and do need cold periods during the winter months to start their growing cycle. These types of bulbs can be planted now and as late as the first frost appears in the area where you live. Don’t wait until snow is in the ground to plant them, do it now and the bulbs should be fine. You should see these bulbs flowering in February when usually snowdrops appear first in your garden. As a general rule of thumb, spring flowering bulbs grow best in zones 4-8.

Anemones, begonias and dahlias are considered summer flowering bulbs and somewhat fall in the tender category, but lilies are hardy. These types of bulbs can be planted in late spring when the weather is milder and there is no chance of snow or frost. They normally bloom in a couple of months and will thrive in most climates but they are not winter hardy at all. If you live in a cold climate, lift your summer bulbs in the fall and store them so you can re-plant them the following year.

The best advise I can give you is the spend some time planning your bulb garden carefully before you buy them. Take a good look at your landscape and do a simple sketch outlining where you want your bulbs planted depending on how you want your garden to look and what color scheme you want. Remember that spring flowering bulbs will be the first to die in early summer so be sure to keep a record of where these are planted just in case you want to add other plants to your garden. Here is a partial list of various bulbs and blooming times to help you in the planning process.

These bulbs bloom very early in the spring:

Snowdrops

Early Daffodils

Snow Crocus

Dwarf Irises

 

These bulbs bloom early spring:

Hyacinths

Tulips (some varieties of early tulips)

Crocus (a variety called giant crocus)

Trumpet Daffodils

 

These bulbs bloom mid-spring:

Blue grape Hyacinths

Daffodils

Tulips

 

These bulbs bloom late spring:

Tulips (some varieties of late season tulips)

Bluebells

 

These bulbs bloom early summer:

Anemone

Dutch Iris

Asiatic Lily

Gladiolus

Alliums

Madonna Lilies

 

These bulbs bloom mid-summer:

Begonias

Iris

Cana Lilies

Gladiolus

Lilies

Dahlias

 

These bulbs bloom late summer:

Dahlia

Begonias

Cana Lilies

 

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Garden: Information from Answers.com
Gardenia augusta | Define Gardenia augusta at Dictionary.com
Flickr: audreyjm529
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AOL.com Video - How to Protect Outdoor Flower Pots in the Winter

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