Forced Bulbs 2

Feels like spring is around the corner...

Open Terrarium

Isn't it cute?? I learned something new this weekend when I visited our local garden center, Mohoney's. There were many Terrariums and kits for sale. I had everything on hand except for some charcoal and plants to make one. Here is the outcome of my project. This is such a easy and neat idea to have your own micro garden contained and easy to care for. The Terrariums on display at Mahoney's are a great inspiration.

Newcomer

New addition to my indoor plants is this Corn Plant. I always love how healthy they look when they come out from nursery and now its up to me to keep that up...

Seedling Update - March 17th

Seedlings as of March 17th

Most of the vegetable seeds germinated (old and new) and are under a white florescent tube light in the basement. I feel some of them are leggy and I may need to cover the seedlings around to amplify the light. I will see what I could do. Flower seeds (marigold and petunia) have not yet germinated.

To add to the above, potted some spinach seeds in one pot and mesclun(spring mix) in 2 small pots on 14th March. No signs of germination for spinach yet, but mesclun pots are having very tiny emerging seedlings within 3 days. I will wait few more days before moving them under the light.Seedlings as of March 12th

Coleus Cuttings

Took some cuttings from my coleus plant. Plan is to save some indoors for winter and take them outdoors next spring.

Buy one get one free

I got a deal at one of the stores, buy one plant and get another free. So here are the 2 plants I got home and planted them in my spray painted pots.

More Tulips

Spring Indoors...

With the tulips indoors, it feels as though the spring has already arrived. Bulb forcing was a wonderful journey to see these tulips grow from bulb to fully grown flowers and I wanted to share the same here.

Guess What??

Any guesses on what these growing bulbs could be? This container with bulbs spent around 12 weeks in my refrigerator and now its out to grow!!!

Hyacinth here...

Here is one of the hyacinths I have forced this winter.

Poinsettias

It was interesting to read a recent article about Six Homespun Medical Myths Debunked. It talked about Poinsettias which bring so much holiday mood into any home they enter. It turned out that Poinsettias aren't poisonous anymore. This is a good news for folks with pets and young children :)

Hyacinths are indoors now!

I have got my Hyacinth bulbs indoors to get some sunlight and grow after a dormant period of about 10 weeks in my unheated garage. It was fun to see its roots shoot and now looking forward for the blooms. I am hoping to see some foliage and flower around new year.

Found great trick for paperwhites!

@ Fern's life on the balcony, found Neat Trick to Keep Forced Bulbs Looking Great. Thanks Theresa & Fern!! This is a great tip for me as my paperwhites are beautiful and fragrant but are long and flopping over. I usually try to put them to direct sunlight or light source whenever possible and this helps them to stand straight, but growth-wise, they are always tall. Next time will try this.

Easy Paperwhites...

Bulb forcing...Its a easy technique to make flowering bulbs to bloom when you want them to. Rather than waiting till spring and summer to see tulips or hyacinths, we can enjoy them even in winters. Among the various types of bulbs available, Paperwhite Narcissus are the easy ones to force as there is never a risk of them not growing. Only things required are
1. Good Quality bulbs
2. Some pebbles or mables or stones or potting soil
3. Water
They also don't need the chilling period needed by other bulbs. Here is how I am forcing few bulbs in a container filled with stones to support the bulbs and add some water. If the bulb can support itself on the container, even with water, paperwhites can be forced.

Growth with in 2 weeks...

Indoor Blooms

My first batch of Paper White Narcissus bulbs are in action and the flowers are beautiful, fragrant and charming.

Peaceful Peace Lily

One of my favorite house plants is the peace lily. It is ever green with its shiny dark green foliage. Its white blooms are wondeful. It produces a lot of oxygen and refreshes the air, no wonder it was elected as the 'best desk plant' for last year.

Muscari armeniacum or Grape Hyacinths

Not sure if I will see any blooms..just waiting what will happen next. Check the picture below from spring time, grape hyacinths did well and after they dried up, I forgot to store them and left them outside in the same pot and to my surprise in September when I happen to see this pot, its full of leggy foliage. This year's rainy summers must have given the cold treatment. I know that these bulbs are winter hardy and you can sow them once and forget about them and enjoy the blooms every spring. I wish I could see some flowers from these bulbs in my pot soon.

Solo Rose

I guess, this rose could be the last rose for this season, as there are no more buds on my plants and I pruned them yesterday. This wonderful grandiflora rose "Dream come true" (2008 AARS Rose Winner) is all alone in the vase but its soft rose fragrance is filling the air.