How to Force Crocus Bulbs
Gardeners can choose from a variety of bulbs to coax into blooming indoors over the winter months. This coaxing is known as "forcing" bulbs.Crocus bulbs are an easy flower variety to force as they bloom readily indoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Clay or plastic flower pot (6-inch diameter, with drainage holes)
- Potting soil
- Peat moss
- Sand
- 15 crocus bulbs
Instructions
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1
Mix the growing medium for the bulbs. Combine one part sand, two parts peat moss and three parts potting soil. Fill the pot approximately three-quarters full with the growing medium.
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2
Place the crocus bulbs in the growing medium with the flat sides of the bulbs facing down into the soil. Position the bulbs so they are almost touching. Add more growing medium to the container so that the tops of the bulbs are just above the soil level. Water the newly planted bulbs generously.
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3
Place the pot into the refrigerator. Check the bulbs every week or two and water the soil in the container if it is dry. Keep the bulbs in the refrigerator for 12 to 13 weeks. During the last week of chilling, check for signs of rooting. Look at the drainage holes in the bottom of the container and if you see roots, the crocus bulbs are ready to bloom.
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4
Remove the container from the refrigerator when the bulbs have rooted. Place the container in a cool location with bright, indirect sunlight. For best results, the temperature should stay below 65 degrees F. Water the crocus plants approximately once per week until they are almost ready to bloom. At this point, increase the watering frequency to two to three times per week.
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5
Watch for blooms between two and five weeks after removing the crocus bulbs from the refrigerator. Keep the blooming crocuses protected from direct sunlight and place them in a cooler room overnight to make the blooms last longer.
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6
Keep the crocus plants until the foliage turns yellow. Cut the foliage down to approximately 1 inch above the soil level. If you transplant the bulbs outdoors, wait until the last spring frost has occurred and then plant them in a sunny location. Plant them as deep as the crocus bulbs are tall. Do not expect blooms for at least two years after transplanting.
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