During the cold, winter months it can be difficult (or expensive) to have beautiful flowers in your home. But there is a way to bring the vibrant color of flowers inside when there is snow outdoors: by forcing perennial bulbs indoors.
Forcing perennial bulbs indoors is not a difficult feat at all. Some varieties do not even need soil to grow indoors. All they will need are some stones to sit on and water underneath. If you are interested in forcing perennial bulbs indoors, however, it is best to start with perennial bulbs that are especially suited for this. Here is a list of some of the top perennial bulbs you can force indoors during winter months:
- Paperwhite Narcissus. This may well be the most popular forced perennial bulb during winter months. By and large this is due to the wonderful (although some might say overpowering) scent they produce - just a few bulbs will fill your house with fragrance.
- Amaryllis. Very popular for forcing at Christmas time, an advantage of this perennial bulb is that no precooling period is necessary prior to forcing.
- Crocus. The larger, hybrid crocus perennial bulb varieties are the most popular for indoor forcing. Crocuses generally require several months of rooting before blooming.
- Iris. Iris reticulata is a variety that is very easy to force indoors. They take approximately fifteen weeks to bloom indoors, and you must ensure they have proper drainage otherwise the bulbs will rot easily.
- Colchicum. Perhaps the easiest perennial bulb to force indoors, they can be grown even without soil or water on a windowsill. They are quick too: they will begin blooming in just two weeks.
For an even easier method of forcing your paperwhite narcissus bulbs, you might also want to consider purchasing this affordable and easy to use Paperwhite Narcissus Bulb kit from Amazon.com! In as little as six weeks, you can have bunches of highly fragrant white daffodils in bloom, on your coffee table - even if there is cold rain or snow outside! Click here to get it on sale at Amazon.com!
