Who doesn’t love a tulip in bloom this time of year? And a pink one at that?!
Right by the front door at my local Walgreens, I spied these pink beauties in the beginning stages of their spring sprout, so I brought two of them home for $7.99 each. All you do to continue forcing their bloom is to add a titch of water to the bottom compartment of their oh-so-clever glass vase that has a plastic screen just beneath the bulbs.
The roots seek the water, the tulips start to grow, and then, voilà … tulips! What I like about this idea is the fact that I also purchased a container for forcing blooms again this time next year and five pink tulips bulbs that I’ll plant in my garden (x2). The company that thought up this brilliant idea is Bloomaker.com.
Megan~ Yesterday I purchased a pot of purple crocus bulbs coming up for $2.99! Growing up in Virginia, we always had a yard full of purple, yellow, and white crocus blooms promising us Spring was not far behind. Not cold, snow, or sleet deterred their bright blooms and they are near and dear to my heart. Now, I am excited to watch my little pot grow me some happy blooms to enjoy soon. Bulb plants don’t work well in Florida due to the heat and humidity, but I am always excited when I get an opportunity to have some from the stores to enjoy!
I love these tulips, as I look out my windows, seeing a foot of snow, knowing that I won’t see any fresh flowers until May!
Those are pretty! I love bulbs ~ and endless expansion of beauty every season. Really hoping the dividing I did of a beautiful brilliant orange lily was successful. It’s the first time I have divided a lily. We’ll see soon enough!
I love your tulips!! My Paper whites bloomed right before Christmas! I do all kinds of bulbs indoors all year long! There is nothing easier! Plough and Hearth has some of the most beautiful bulb vases, but you can use any kind of container! I love using my Grandmothers glass pitchers. I have had friends come in and just marvel that you can grow them just in water!
Tall clear flower vases are good to transfer them into when some types of bulbs get very tall and heavy after they start blooming, you just keep the water level to the roots and add a few colored marbles or glass pebbles or pretty rocks to keep the bulb out of the water.
Back in the 1800s and before it was quite common to “force” bulbs especially Hyacinths ( not the lollipop ones we see now but the old fashioned highly fragrant wood hyacinths) There were special vases for this called Tye vases, see:
http://www.hyacinthvases.org.uk/Vase%20Shapes
These can also be used for tulips. I usually ” force” leftover not so good bulbs from fall time. I have some heirloom double blossom daffodills called ” Rip Van Winkle”. I have had them in vermiculite in a bucket all winter in my unheated cottage. I just got them out yesterday, how timely Megan!
I just jury rig a few of my crystal long stem champagne glasses ( that hardly ever get used) and put them in with just enough water to touch the ” roots”. Put them in a sunny windowsill and watch them unfold! Also you can put daffodils especially in low pots over stones with just enough water to keep the roots wet. I like to use my vintage funky 50’s planters that are never big enough for any plants anyway.
*** be warned, bulbs that are forced will not bloom again in the spring, they have used up all their energy and may come back again the following season if planted outdoors when the soil warms up ( not frozen) But oftentimes they will not make it to bloom again.
THINK SPRING !
They are beautiful! Tulips are one of my favorites! I might have to check this out.
Thanks!
CJ