Want a table top display of gorgeous paperwhite blooms for a special occasion? How about a giant amaryllis with giant, dazzling flowers? When it comes to forcing bulbs indoors, there’s no guarantee your flowers will appear on time, but, with some simple planning, the odds are in your favour.
Let’s have a look at the bulbs that are easiest to force indoors and the required planting dates for blooms right when you want them. Also see, Growing Bulbs: Indoors and Outdoors and How to Transplant Spring Flowering Bulbs.
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Bulbs Can Be Quirky
Forcing bulbs sounds unkind but it’s really not. It just means providing the right conditions to provoke bulbs and corms to flower.
Before we go further, please note that timing can vary by cultivar and conditions. There are hundreds of bulb choices available and no two may behave in the same manner. Also, the same bulb may have variable timing depending on its age, condition, and the growing conditions provided.
That said, I’ll give you a generalized overview that will help with your planning.
If you absolute must have flowers on your holiday table by a specific date, go ahead with forcing bulbs on schedule but do have a backup plan just in case.
Chill and No-Chill Bulbs
There are two categories of bulbs you can force into bloom indoors.
1) Bulbs that do not require chilling.
These tropical bulbs—paperwhites and amaryllises—can be planted right away.
2) Bulbs that require a chilling or cold period before forcing.
The easiest ones to force are: crocus, hyacinth, muscari, and mini daffodils.
Unless you purchase them ‘pre-chilled’, these bulbs will require a chilling period (times listed below).
Timing Paperwhites
- Paperwhites (narcissus) are no-chill bulbs and generally take 3-5 weeks to start blooming after planting indoors.
- The flowers can last 4-6 weeks.
- Check the tag on the ones you purchase for specific planting instructions and timing.
Timing Example
If I want paperwhites in bloom for Christmas and New Years, plant them by mid November. They will come into bloom by mid December and should stay in bloom for a number of weeks. Start a bit later and you’ll have the buds about to unfold which I find equally beautiful.
SCENT WARNING Some people find the scent of paperwhites to be overwhelming. They are strong! Sometimes I have forced them only to find I have to put them outside (in winter!) because the fragrance is over-powering our home. I have friends who don’t mind it one bit. Go figure.
If you want to print out the calendars on this page, you can get them here.
Related: How to Transplant Spring Flowering Bulbs.
Timing Amaryllises
- Amaryllises are no-chill bulbs and generally take 6-8 weeks to start blooming after planting indoors, although this can vary quite a bit by cultivar.
- The flowers can last 3-6 weeks.
- Check the tag on the ones you purchase for specific planting instructions and timing.
Timing Example
To prepare an amayrillis (a 6-8 week one) for Valentine’s Day, get it planted by mid December. It should be in bloom in early February.
Alternately, start it a little later and let the recipient have the joy of seeing the blooms unfold each day.
Timing Bulbs that Require Pre-Chilling
I recommend starting with the easiest ones to grow: crocus, hyacinth, muscari, and mini daffodils (not the hardy, full-size ones).
- You must provide the required chilling period or purchase the bulbs pre-chilled and ready for planting.
- Check the tag on the ones you purchase for specific planting instructions and timing.
Timing Example
If you want crocuses in bloom indoors in March, count back 18 weeks (=early November) to find the date they should start chilling.
And there you have it.
Be sure any bulbs you purchase are firm, fresh, and not moldy or mushy.
I hope you’ll give forcing bulbs a try. It’s a great gift to give yourself in those dark days of winter.
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~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
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Sylant says
I heard amaryllis only bloom once per bulb is this true? I do keep restarting mine but all i have ever got the second, third and fourth time around was the greens. Thank you
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Sylant, As far as I know, they can rebloom but it’s not reliable. So will, some won’t. Here’s some tips: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/AmaryllisBloom.html
Jennifer says
Thank you, thank you, thank you Melissa. I’ve never forced paperwhites or amaryliss before and I really wanted to this year. I knew I was approaching the deadline for the holidays and have been meaning to google it but I’ve been out straight with so many other things. This is really handy to have at a glance. I’m pinning to my “floral fantasy board.”