Bulbs for Christmas

You can have gorgeous flowers indoors by forcing bulbs of key varieties, says Camilla Phelps, as she explains how you can do it

- Camilla Phelps

IT’S impossible not to be awed by the exotic, the rare and the unseasonal blooms of forced bulbs and their teasing glimpse of spring. With flowering times from late December through to February, the rich colours and scents of bulbs are guaranteed to inspire hope in the dark days of midwinter.

The scarcity of flower color outdoors at this time of the year makes the act of bringing bulbs into bloom early even more magical. And by having them indoors it’s a fantastic opportunity to admire their unfurling up close and personal.

Vernalisation

Forcing bulbs simply means coaxing them into growth earlier than they would naturally flower. For some, this means giving them an early, short, sharp dose of cold and dark, tricking them into thinking it’s winter. Technically, this is known as vernalization and involves planting the bulbs in pots in mid-autumn and leaving them in a cool, dark place. This will encourage the roots and flowering stems to develop.

On bringing the pots indoors, the change in temperature speeds up growth and the bulbs will start to deliver flowers within weeks. So, if you’re planning a festive flower display, work your timings backwards from Christmas or New Year about six to eight weeks.

In theory, this technique can be used with many spring-flowering bulbs, but traditionally, highly scented paperwhite narcissus are the most popular and reliable. Plant them up in generous quantities in a shallow container, with a natural framework of twigs they can grow through that provides support.

Stunning flowers