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Step 1
Find forcing jars at garden centers or thrift shops. The large size is also known as a hyacinth vase. Wash and rinse them thoroughly before using.
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Step 2
Select crocus corms (commonly referred to as bulbs) or hyacinth bulbs in the colors you want. Choose Large Flowering Crocuses, Crocus vernus, instead of Species Crocuses.
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Step 3
Prechill the bulbs in paper or mesh bags in your refrigerator. Do not refrigerate apples and bulbs in the same drawer. Apples release ethylene gas that can damage the bulbs. Crocuses need to be chilled for 15 weeks and hyacinths need 12 weeks.
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Step 4
Pour water into each forcing jar and top with one bulb per jar, placing the pointed end of the bulb up. Adjust the water level so the water is close to, but not in direct contact with, the bottom of the bulb. Monitor the water cleanliness and level during the forcing process, and change or top up the water.
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Step 5
Move the jars to a sunny location indoors. Crocus jars prefer a 60 degree-room and hyacinth jars should be in a 70 degree-room. Roots will appear in the water. The crocuses will bloom in two weeks and the hyacinths in two to three weeks. Once they are flowering you can prolong bloom by removing them from direct sunlight.









Comments
gensparkie said
on 11/8/2009 Great tips, Daff! It wouldn't have occurred to me to be careful of apples in the fridge when chilling bulbs.