Beauty From Flowering Bulbs Indoors

If you’d like to enjoy the beauty of flowers without having to go outside, try planting flowering bulbs indoors. Here are a few ideas: Pineapple lilies, Paperwhite narcissus, and Amaryllis. After you’ve planted the bulbs, you’ll have a blooming flower arrangement for weeks.

Amaryllis

The beauty of flowering bulbs can be enjoyed throughout the year, even if you aren’t in the mood to spend time outdoors. Flowering bulbs can be forced to bloom indoors, or you can grow them in a container. The only caveat is that you need to give them water every couple of days. The water should be kept cool, and the bulbs should be in indirect light. The ideal temperature for bulb growth is sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Direct sunlight from a south-facing window can heat the water, and make the buds shrivel.

The best time to plant flowering bulbs indoors is in late fall or early winter. Winter-blooming bulbs, such as paperwhites and amaryllis, can be planted in November and will produce flowers four to 12 weeks later. These bulbs are easy to grow and come in many varieties, colors, and styles. They also produce wonderful fragrances.

Paperwhite narcissus

When growing flowering bulbs indoors, you’ll want to choose a location that provides cool, indirect sunlight. Ideally, you’ll be able to get about 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit in your room, but if the temperature drops below that, you can also add alcohol to the water. The diluted alcohol solution can help keep the bulb’s tips short and upright. For example, you can dilute 70% alcohol with one part water.

When forcing paperwhites or amaryllis bulbs, it’s important to choose a pot that will accommodate the bulb’s roots. After planting, it’s important to maintain the soil’s moisture level, since the bulbs need to stay moist. After a week or two, they should start blooming.

There are several different types of forcing containers for flowering bulbs. When choosing the container, consider its appearance and type of flower. Shallow pots and dishes are ideal for many types of bulbs. Mason jars are also a great choice. They have a wide dish at the top and narrower dish at the bottom.

Caladiums

Caladiums are hardy plants that can be grown both indoors and out. They can be grown as annuals and overwintered as tender bulbs. However, they are best grown as annuals in a warm location and dug up before the first freeze. It is important to keep the soil moist but not soggy or they will suffer. In winter, store them in paper or mesh bags.

Caladiums grow best in medium light levels, but they should be protected from midday sunlight. A window facing north or east is ideal. Ensure that the plant gets plenty of indirect light, as direct sunlight can cause the plant to lose its leaves and flowers. In addition, humidity is important for caladium houseplant care. This plant is native to South American tropical forests and produces its foliage during the warm rainy season.

Caladiums can be started indoors in early spring, but they need a warm location and plenty of humidity to thrive. The temperature should be around 60deg F at night and 70-75deg F during the day. Keep the soil and compost moist but not so wet that they rot. Caladiums will droop when thirsty.

Pineapple lilies

Pineapple lilies are a beautiful, exotic plant with long-lasting blossoms. They are a favorite of pollinators and are easy to grow and winter over. They also make excellent container plants. If you want to grow a plant like this in a container, here are some tips.

Plant your pineapple lily bulb in a container or pot. It is best to plant it in the ground in the spring, but if you want to enjoy their beauty all year round, you can dig it up in the fall and grow it indoors in a cool location. They tolerate all kinds of soil and humidity, but you may have to water them more often in the winter months.

Once you’ve planted the lilies in a container, they will send up spikes of star-shaped blossoms. You can expect this to last about two months. The foliage of these plants are attractive, too.

Crinums

Crinums are one of the most versatile flowering bulbs, providing beauty from winter through early spring. Their big underground bulbs are not easy to transplant. You may need to remove the soil from their roots and dig a trench for them. These bulbs are best transplanted during the fall, when they’re at their dormant stage. They also like well-drained soil and partial shade.

Although crinums require little maintenance, they do need watering. Regular watering helps them look their best. For the best blooming, give them enough moisture but not too much water. Watering them too often can cause them to rot. For this reason, it’s best to give them adequate watering during the spring and summer months.

Crinums have a delicate sweet fragrance and last several weeks. Typically, they are white, but some cultivars develop red or purplish stripes on their petals. They are about four inches wide and have long filament-like stamens. They typically bloom from summer to fall. They can produce as many as 30 flowers during their flowering period.

Caladiums require no cooling to bloom

Caladiums are low-maintenance plants with relatively few pests and diseases. The most common issue is tuber rot, which is easily remedied by amending the soil with a compost mix or using compost tea. Another problem is leaf burn, which occurs on the thin-leaved cultivars. However, this problem is easily avoidable by covering the foliage with copper flashing. Animals can also feed on caladium leaves, so animal repellents, such as garlic or dried blood, should be used. In addition, cayenne pepper can be used to discourage browsing.

If you don’t have a garden, you can still grow your own caladiums indoors. The plants need a warm environment and plenty of humidity. To help maintain the humidity around your plant, you can use a saucer filled with pebbles.

Planting time for spring-planted bulbs

The ideal planting time for spring-planted bulbs is when night temperatures are consistently between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This is about six weeks before the first hard frost. This will give them ample time to root themselves and survive the winter. However, if temperatures are above freezing during this time, you can plant your bulbs as late as November.

Before planting spring-planted bulbs, you should first prepare the soil. Make sure that it is well-draining. In areas that are prone to standing water, it’s a good idea to amend the soil with broken stone or coarse gravel. Also, add some mulch.

In addition to the soil type, you need to consider the size of the bulbs that you plan to plant. Larger bulbs should be planted a few inches deeper than their smaller counterparts.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing flowering bulbs is an important part of caring for your houseplants. While most plants do not mind being moist, dry soil can hinder the growth of bulbs. In these cases, add organic matter to the soil, such as compost or shredded leaves. Alternatively, you can add fresh potting soil to your houseplants.

A balanced fertilizer is the best option for planting flowering bulbs. Make sure the fertilizer has the right amount of nutrients and does not burn the bulbs. In general, a mixture of compost/soil and 1/3 soilless mix is fine. Make sure to spray the fertilizer on the soil surface instead of in the planting hole.

Afterward, chill the bulb in an area with a temperature of 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A root cellar, unheated garage, attic, or shed are all good locations. You can also place your bulbs in the refrigerator. When planting bulbs indoors, keep the soil or planting medium cool, but not damp.

Adding alcohol to water to keep paperwhites from flopping over

Adding alcohol to water to keep paperwhite flowers from flopping over is an excellent method to help keep your paperwhites compact. It works by diluting the alcohol in the water. However, you should be careful to only use alcohol that contains at least 5% alcohol. Sugar-based alcohols, such as distilled spirits, should not be used. Similarly, you shouldn’t exceed 10% alcohol in the water.

Before adding alcohol to water, drain water from the paperwhites’ containers. You can then add about four to six percent alcohol to the water, ensuring that the water level remains the same. Be sure to keep the alcohol solution below ten percent, as any higher than that will be toxic to the flower.

Adding alcohol to water to keep paperwhite flowers from flopping over from flowering bulbs indoors benefits: The alcohol solution will stunt the growth of the stem without interfering with the flowering process. It will also help to reduce the amount of water that the paperwhite plants receive.