How to Force Bulbs Like a Pro & Care for Your Holiday Poinsettia

By Cindy Cloninger

Photo by Annie Spratt

After stomping off the clumps of snow from your boots, removing the layers of outerwear, and  still feeling cold, there isn’t a more beautiful sight than seeing a little bit of warm weather in the blooms of summer and spring.  I’m talking about those vibrant colors and rich fragrances that come from forcing bulbs.

Forcing bulbs that normally bloom in spring and summer months into an early bloom has been done for years.  Forcing might not be the right word for the kind of imagery that we are trying to invoke here.  It’s more like tricking the bulbs into thinking they’ve had a nice cold winter.

There are two kinds of bulbs that can be forced

The first type don’t have to be ‘wintered’ at all as they naturally come from warmer tropical climates. These are specifically the Amaryllis and Paperwhites. That means you can have flowers in as little as 3-5 weeks! Which is a major plus if, like me, your life is too hectic to often think months ahead.
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The second group need to experience a ‘winter’ so to speak.  This variety of bulbs will need to be chilled at around 40 degrees. The time frame varies depending on the individual flower type

Warm weather Non-chilling Bulbs

• Soak the roots of the bulbs in warm water for a few hours
• Place in container with potting soil or our terra zest for amaryllis, paperwhites can be planted in glass marbles, or stones leaving the top ⅔ exposed. 
• Water lightly (soil should be damp but not wet) & place in a warm sunny spot. Mix in wool pellets to soak keep soil moist, but not wet.
• ​Expect to see blooms in about 3-5 weeks for Paperwhites & 6-8 weeks for the Amaryllis

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Photo by Ross Domke

While individual times vary, a general rule to follow is:

Easy Peasy! That’s why these make such great holiday gifts!  Use a bag of our terra zest and mix in some wool pellets and you’ll have thriving plants that will do well in an arid house using a heater.

Easytogrowbulbs.com has this great how-to video on Paperwhites.  Check out their great online store for a large variety of bulbs.

Cold weather bulbs

As in life, Chill for best results

• Choose a pot that will be deep enough to allow a couple of inches below the bulb for root growth and tall enough to cover with soil up to the neck of the bulb, try our terra zest for impressive results. Mix in  wool pellets for a natural release fertilizer and less frequent watering.
• Place the bulbs in the container, it’s okay to crowd and pack those bulbs in there
• Time to chill. Check chilling times on the chart below. Some of the best places around your home might be chilling drawer in the refrigerator, garage, or basement. Water occasionally so the soil stays damp but not wet. This is the rooting time, where deep roots will grow.​
• After the chilling period or winter. Start to warm up the bulbs by moving them to slightly warmer temperatures and allow for some indirect sunlight. This will help the leaves to green up. Watering will be infrequent at this point but will increase as it blooms
• ​Once the bulbs have growth and are a couple of inches tall, give them more sunlight and a warmer spot. Most bulbs bloom within 2-5 weeks of being chilled​.

​When it comes to forcing bulbs we often think of the larger varieties like tulips and amaryllis, but crocuses and grape hyanciths are able to be forced as well.  Try layering the larger bulbs underneath some of the smaller ones for an indoor planter bursting with blooms.

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal

Photo by Cody Fitzgerald

Check out this great little video for a step by step look at how this processes goes.

Caring for your holiday poinsettias

Photo by Jessica Fadel

Aside from bulbs, winter holidays give us a few other plants to care for.  The most common of these is the Poinsettia. The plant is native to Central America and was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett was the first US minister to Mexico.

​Because it is a tropical plant, protect if from cold temperatures and chilling winds. Poinsettias like 65-70 degrees, ideally, with about 6 hours of indirect light daily. Over watering is a common cause of death for these plants. Take note that while not overly poisonous, if eaten by humans or pets they will cause vomiting and can cause rashes is some people. So keep away from pets, children, and dare-taking teenage boys.

​Light and darkness are both equally important to the Poinsettia, who’s scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima. It is actually the this contrast in light and dark, beginning in October for about 15 hours of darkness nightly, that turns the normally white leaves red. Once buds develop, it needs less darkness.

The colored “flowers” are actually specialized leaves called brachts, while the true flowers are inconspicuous beads found in the center of the brachts.
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You can move your plants outdoors once nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees.  Prune and shape to keep it ‘bushy’ until next fall.

Cindy Cloninger

Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most.  When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things.   No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.