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Forcing bulbs

I am a retired science high school teacher with a love of experiments. Having planted all my fall bulbs outside in anticipation of an early spring flower show, I have turned my attention to forcing bulbs indoors.

There are several different kinds of Paperwhite Narcissus but the thing they all have in common is the absence of the need for a period of cold to bloom. Most narcissus bulbs, such as daffodils, require a cold period to induce blooms.

I remember the first Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs I received in college from my roommate as a Christmas gift. I was delighted to have flowers in January in Iowa! However, these bulbs will not produce flowers again once they have been forced.

Living in Texas where Narcissus plants such as Primo come up and bloom by the end of January, I have less incentive to force bulbs. Because it had been a number of years since I had forced Paperwhite Narcissus I went to the internet to review just how to proceed.

I found sites that recommended placing the bulbs on top of the two inches of pebbles and pouring in water up to the bottom of the bulb without touching the bulb. That was the procedure I remembered. However, some recommended putting the container with the bulbs immediately in the window and others said to keep the bulbs in a cool dark location until the flower bud is visible (then bring the container out into the light). Throughout the process it is important to maintain the water level.

Aha! An experiment! After one week I can definitely tell you that placing the container with bulbs in a cool dark location (such as my shed) the roots will come out much faster than in the window. I recommend following the cool dark location.

I learned that in planting zones 9 and 10 the Paperwhite Narcissus could be placed in the ground outside submerged in the soil. In Zone 8 (which is our zone) you might need to protect the bulbs. The advantage to planting outside is that they might come back to bloom in future years.

Another experiment! I planted two of the bulbs outside in the ground where the deer roam and two bulbs in the enclosed area in the back of the house. Time will tell if the bulbs survive the deer and will return each winter to bloom.

Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054