Flower bulbs sprout as soon as the conditions are right. For some varieties the time has come after the Ice Saints in May. They are still many days or even weeks away from flowering. Who wants to wait patiently for nature to take its course?
How do you grow flower bulbs?
Promoting flower bulbs means ending their dormant phase early by providing them with enough warmth indoors. Spring bloomers need a cold phase before they sprout in the warm, while summer bloomers should be prepared in pots from February and gradually acclimated to the sun.
That means advancing
Advancing means nothing more than prematurely ending the dormant phase of a flower bulb. This happens by specifically creating the conditions it needs for budding. The main thing is to provide her with enough warmth. This can only happen in one room.
Spring bloomers can be made to bloom in winter. The flowering of summer flowers, on the other hand, can be brought forward by several weeks by pushing forward.
Spring bloomers
Spring bloomers are planted in the garden in autumn because they are hardy. They don't make us wait long for their flowers in spring, the first ones bloom in January. It only makes sense to push them forward if you want them to bloom indoors before their time.
Spring bloomers from the trade
Spring bloomers need a long cold stimulus, without which they will not bloom. Flower bulbs that retailers offer for sale in winter have previously been artificially exposed to the cold in cold storage. You can therefore use these onions immediately:
- plant in a pot or continue to cultivate in the purchased pot
- draw individual flower bulbs in a glass decoratively
- growing large flower bulbs (cover with wax)
Produce your own onions
You have to plant your own flower bulbs in pots about three months before the desired flowering date and keep them at 0 to 8 degrees until then so that they get the cold phase they need.
When the flower bulbs start sprouting, they are kept at 15 degrees Celsius for about two weeks. Only then are they allowed to go into a warm, bright location.
Advance summer bloomers
Whether begonias, callas or other onion plants, this task can be tackled from February. Here are the key details:
- Put onions in lukewarm water for 24 hours
- then plant in pots with drainage holes
- first comes a drainage layer
- then potting soil mixed with sand
- Planting depth depends on the variety
- place in partial shade at around 15 degrees
- keep moist throughout
- make it lighter after sprouting
Tip
Get the plants used to the sun gradually before they are finally allowed to stay outside in mid-May.
