As indoor bulbs flower from early December, they make perfect and thoughtful Christmas gifts to give to family and friends. However, they take some forward planning to get right.

Prepare Your Bulbs

Often, normal garden varieties of bulbs are fine to force. This goes for tulips, narcissi, crocus, and many more. However, there are specially prepared bulbs that have been treated in cold conditions, making them appear earlier than you would traditionally expect.
Hyacinths are a good example of this treatment. They are placed in a fridge up to 15 weeks, triggering their biochemical response that makes them flower. At J Parkers, we sell our own range of prepared bulbs, making your life that much easier. However, if you wanted to take your own crack at it, keep your desired bulbs in a cool place (garage, shed, etc) for 10 to 15 weeks. Once this period has finished, it's time to pot your bulbs.

Planting Your Bulbs

Once you've treated your bulbs, they're ready to be planted. Your indoor bulbs should be planted in well-drained but moist soil. Try to use grit where you can to create the proper amount of drainage. Take your container and fill the bottom with a layer of grit. Lay some soil on top and make a well for your bulbs.
If you're looking to plant more than one bulb, space evenly so they're not too packed together. Place your bulb with the pointed tip facing upwards and cover with soil. Water lightly once done.

Caring for your Bulbs

You should see your bulbs flower from early December. If you're having trouble with your bulbs growing straight, pot in gravel and stones instead of soil as it helps anchor the bulb in place. Wait for the plant to flower and voilà! The perfect hand-made gift.

Shop our full range of indoor bulbs online.