After putting all the Christmas decorations back into storage and getting rid of the tree, my house felt a little empty. Then came a few cloudy days and I knew that it was time to get creative and spruce things up!
I’ve always been inspired by nature and love to bring fresh cut flowers or greenery into my home, but during winter, that can get a little tricky!
While grocery shopping, I ended up in the fresh flower section and came across a few daffodil bulbs that had already spouted. They were potted in simple plastic containers and the soil had dried out… I thought; I’m going to give these little guys a chance to grow… in proper pots and better conditions (i.e. water and a nice sunny spot on the windowsill in my kitchen!).
I was with my husband and as we searched for flower pots, he came up with a whimsical idea to plant them in mason jars. And so, we found pretty jars and jute rope to give them a rustic look.
My hubby and kids were more than happy to pitch in and help us get those bulbs planted in the jars we’d found.
Even though I picked up sprouted bulbs, growing them indoors is quite easy to do. The most important detail of all, however, is remembering to chill bulbs in late fall for winter blooms. Keep in mind there are also types of bulbs that don’t need to be chilled, such as amaryllis and paperwhites.
A few tips to get you started:
· The easiest bulbs to grow indoors include: mini-daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths.
· Look for nice bulbs that are firm and without mold.
· These particular bulbs will need to chill for about 15 to 16 weeks in an unheated garage or basement, if you live in a cold climate like we do! If not, bulbs can be chilled in a cool area outside, covered in hay and kept moist.
Steps to follow for beautiful winter blooms:
1. You’ll need potting soil; any standard mix is fine to use.
2. Plant bulbs in clusters in a shallow pot of about 4 to 5 inches deep, as there should be about 2 inches beneath the bulb for root growth.
3. Be sure to plant the pointy side of the bulb upwards.
4. Water thoroughly and place them in a cool, dark place such as your garage or basement.
5. Let them rest for 15 to 16 weeks. (You might want to note their storage removal date on a calendar!)
6. Once removed from storage, they should bloom in 3 to 4 weeks.
7. It’s important to wake the bulbs gradually. For the first two weeks, place them in indirect sunshine. Once shoots have grown a few inches, place on a sun drenched windowsill.
8. Once flowers have bloomed, it’s best to keep them out of direct sunlight to prolong their life span.
All in all, this turned out to be a fun activity for the whole family and we now have showy blooms enlivening our home!
