Things You'll Need
Dish
Pebbles
Forcing spring bulbs encourages the plants to bloom indoors earlier in spring than they would normally flower outdoors. Daffodils, tulips and narcissus are just a few varieties of bulbs that force well. If you don't plan to replant the bulbs to the garden after flowering, you can plant them in a dish of rocks instead of in a pot of soil. The forced bulbs provide indoor beauty and require little care in order to thrive throughout the flowering period.
Step 1
Fill a shallow dish with clean pebbles or floral marbles. Use a dish that is deep enough to hold approximately a 2-inch layer of pebbles.
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Step 2
Set the bulbs in the pebbles with the flat side down. Push the bulbs into the pebbles just deep enough to hold them upright. Space bulbs approximately 1 inch apart in the dish.
Step 3
Add water to the dish until the water just touches the bottom of the bulb. Set the dish in a cool, dark room until the stems begin to emerge.
Step 4
Move the dish to a warm, sunny windowsill when stem growth begins. Replenish the water in the dish to maintain the level as it is used or evaporates.
Tip
Some bulb varieties, such as daffodils and tulips, require cold treatment in order to break dormancy. Place the dish in a 40 to 45 F location for eight weeks prior to beginning the forcing procedure.
Warning
Bulbs grown in rocks must be discarded after blooming. They will not survive to flower a second time.
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