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Forcing bulbs is a hobby that is almost as old as the bringing daffodils out of the field as weeds, and making a garden flower out of them. Growing daffodils in pots has a history as long as forcing. There's still time to force those bulbs, or grow them in pots.
Canadian Gardening has an excellent web site for forcing and pot growing of different kinds of bulbs. This link should be used as ready reference for those that force bulbs, including but not limited to daffodils. Another web site that I use as a ready reference is Clemson University's Crop Specific Guidelines for bulb forcing. This link provides a wealth of information on forcing and growing in pots. Growing in Pots, and Forcing Forcing and growing in pots have a lot in common. Forcing is used to get bulbs to bloom early, or forced to bloom early. Growing daffodils in pots is temporary plantings of bulbs so that they can be used as early flowers in the house or patio. Both processes require the same regimentation to work. The major difference, normally, is that forced bulbs are kept indoor and most of the time in a refrigerator, while bulbs grown in pots are kept outdoors. Putting Bulbs into Pots Both potting and forcing techniques starts the same way. Select deep pots that have a drain hole, and apply course gravel or crushed rock at the bottom of the pot to insure drainage. The filler for the pot can be potting soil, peat, or topsoil. I generally use potting soil. Put a couple inches of potting soil in the pot, put in the bulbs and continue to fill the pot until it reaches the top. Multiple layers of bulbs may be accomplished by starting at the first layer of bulbs. Place the bulbs in the pot at the first layer, cover the bulbs until only the pointed tops can be seen, and add another layer of bulbs. Be careful to put the bulbs between the points of the previous layer. Cover the second layer to the tops of the bulbs, and repeat the process. Continue this until the pot is full. The top layer of bulbs do not need to be fully covered. The next step after putting the bulbs in the pot is to add water and fertilize. Add a teaspoon of fertlizer as a top dressing. Put enough water in the pot to insure the entire potting medium has been watered. Remember that peat is very thirsty and will require a lot of water that first time. When the bulbs start their spring grow period, another teaspoon of fertilizer should be added.
The copyright of the article Pot Growing & Forcing Bulbs in Daffodil Growing & Showing is owned by Clay Higgins. Permission to republish Pot Growing & Forcing Bulbs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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