Hyacinth, crocus, tulip, narcissus…
1. Mix garden soil and potting soil
Proportions: 2/3 and 1/3. Add a little river sand to facilitate drainage. Plant several bulbs of the same kind per pot. Crocuses and tulips must be buried. On the other hand, daffodils and hyacinths must remain partly visible. Then place the pot in the dark, and at a cool temperature (6 to 9°C) for 8 to 10 weeks:
Plant at the end of September: Plant your pots at the end of September. Place them in the dark at a temperature of 6° to 9° for 8 to 10 weeks to promote root development. Keep the pots moist.
After this time, place them at 25°, still in the dark, for 7 to 10 days: the flower stem lengthens.
Then take the plantation out into the light, maintaining a temperature of around 180 to enjoy flowering for longer.
2. Forcing is complete
Young shoots exposed to light will gradually green up and flower stalks will appear. Keep the stew moist. Make the flowering last by keeping the pot in a cool room. Once flowered, the bulbs can finish their vegetation in the ground: in spring, place them in the garden, protecting them from field mice.
You can use them again next year either by planting them in the ground or by forcing them.
Hippeastrum
1. Mix 2/3 potting soil and 1/3 garden soil.
The size of the pot depends on that of the bulb: you must be able to slide your fingers to compact the soil after planting.
2. Remove the roots
Remove dry roots completely and lightly trim the ends of others.
After flowering: Remove dead stems without damaging the leaves. Slow down watering and add fertilizer every ten days to make the bulb grow again. A few weeks later, the foliage turns yellow: gradually stop watering and keep the bulb completely dry until the following fall.
In a frost-free period or zone, plant the hippeastrum in the garden, but don’t forget it outside this winter!
3. Pot the bulb 2/3 full.
Pack very firmly with your fingers or a stick without hurting the roots.
4. Water, letting the water seep through.
Hold the pot slightly damp, in the heat and in a bright room. As soon as the shoots appear, increase the volume of water and turn the pot from time to time to avoid deformation of the stems. Tutor them!
No excess water!
Depending on the bulb, the flower stems may appear before the leaves: this has no impact on the size or duration of flowering.
Be patient : Some bulbs are finicky! Choose them very fleshy, with tight scales. Excess water can cause red spots on leaves and flowers: add sand to the compost.