Spring is Here! - In the Refrigerator

This time of year we are all wanting something green and growing. In my garden, I have snow and everything else is BROWN. This year I decided to try forcing bulbs. I potted up some tulip bulbs in October and placed them in the refrigerator and guess what..... spring is coming early. If you would like to try forcing tulips here is how to do it. Purchase some fresh healthy bulbs and pot them in a clean pot with potting soil. Make sure the flat side of the bulb is against the side of the pot with the pointed end up. Cover with soil, water and place in a plastic bag. Make sure you add the date you potted the bulbs on the pot. Put the pot into the refrigerator and let winter begin. Check on the pot every couple of weeks for signs of growth and moisture.

When you see the tulips breaking out of the soil and the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, you can remove the potted bulbs and take them into the house to a bright, warm location to encourage growth of foliage and buds. I am going to let my bulbs go longer in the refrigerator because they are not ready yet. Tulips need 12 to 14 weeks of chilling at temperatures of 35 to 48 degrees with 40 degrees being ideal. Make sure that you do not keep apples in the refrigerator with your tulips. Apples produce an odorless gas called ethylene which will damage your tulip bulbs. Make sure you use a potting soil with fertilizer in it. Forcing does weaken the bulbs and you may not be able to rebloom them again in the garden. When you purchase bulbs, check to make sure that they can be forced. Potted bulbs with care instructions make great Christmas gifts for friends and fellow gardeners. I will keep you up to date on the progress of my bulbs - check back at "Garden Thyme with the Creative Gardener".

The Creative Gardener

Add Some "Spring" to Your Containers

 

Spring is coming and now is the time to start getting that landscape prepared for it's arrival. You can start cleaning up the garden beds, picking up yard debris and pruning different plants in the landscape. Garden maintenance needs to be done early before many of the spring flowering plants and bulbs start to break ground and grow.

 

As you start the process of spring cleanup, consider adding some color to that drab winter garden with some colorful containers of spring flowering plants and bulbs.  Many local stores will be receiving in pots of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, ornamental cabbage and pansies that can be planted in containers to give some much needed color to the garden. 

 

 

When selecting containers look for ones that compliment the plants that you will be using.  Containers can be ceramic, cement, wood or other types of materials.  They should have good drainage, color and be frost proof. When planting your containers, use a quality soil designed for containers.

 

 Use a thriller, spiller and filler method for planting.  If you have not heard of this method, a thriller would be something big and attractive like the tulips in the picture above.  The filler would be a smaller plant to fill in the pot and the spiller would be a plant that hangs down the sides of the pot. The ivy in the picture above is serving as a filler and a spiller. You can have multiple plants for fillers. Remember to select plants that can withstand changing weather and temperatures based on the zone that you live in.

 

Here are a few examples of  containers and window boxes decorated for spring. You might notice that all the containers used ivy for the spiller plant.  When your containers need to be changed you can remove the spring plants and continue to use the ivy with summer and fall blooming plants.

 

Azalea and ivy

 

Daffodils, spikes and ivy

 

Tulips, daffodils, ivy and a houseplant

 

Azalea and ivy

 

Assorted spring bulbs with ivy

 

Cyclamens and ivy

 

Assorted spring bulbs with ivy

 

Tulips, pansies and ivy

 

Tulips, ivy and pansies

 

 

When preparing your containers for spring, add some moss or wood mulch on top of the soil for some added protection for the plants from the cold.  Use one or group several containers together for added color and balance. Don't forget to add some colorful containers inside your home to enjoy.  Now get out there and start getting that garden ready for spring!

 

Happy Gardening!

Debbie

Growing Amaryllis for Indoor Winter Bloom

This pink and white amaryllis is now in bloom and it is stunning. The amaryllis to the left in the picture is still in bud and showing the red color that it will be when it blooms.



This time of year you are ready for flowers and getting outside in the garden again, however it is still winter, it's cold and the snow is still on the ground. What do you do? Why not grow an amaryllis and enjoy those big beautiful flowers inside.

 

Amaryllis are easy to grow. In my zone, they can be found in many stores and they are being sold for Christmas gift giving. You can buy them with the bulb, container and soil all in one package. You simple fill the container with soil, add the bulb, water and wait for the plant to bloom which is about 4 to 6 weeks.

Once your bulb blooms, now what do you do? You could throw it away or enjoy it another year.

 

If you want to keep your bulb for another year, here are some simple steps to follow:

• As your flowers fade, remove them from the plant. When all the flowers are gone, cut the flower stalk where it emerges from the bulb. Do not remove the green leaves. 
• You can place your potted bulb outside for the summer. Continue to fertilize and water regularly until late fall. You can fertilize using 10-10-10 or a liquid plant food. This is the time that the bulb is storing nutrients needed for the next growing cycle.
• When late fall comes, stop watering the bulb and allow the leaves to dry out. Place the potted bulb inside and in a cool dark area of around 50 to 60 degrees for about 8 weeks. You can leave the bulb in the same container for storage. Periodically, check on the bulb, but do not water.
• When you start to see new growth, add some additional new soil to the top of the container and fertilize. Make sure that you do not cover the top of the bulb with soil. Place your bulb in a sunny location in your house and start regular watering.
• When the flower stalk starts to grow, you will need to rotate the container to keep the flower stalk tall and straight as it grows. Now just wait for the beautiful flowers to grow and bloom. 

Your amaryllis can grow in the same container for several years before you will need to move it to a larger container. When the bulb becomes tight in the container, it is time to plant it into a larger container.

Happy Gardening,

Debbie