WASHINGTON GARDENER
Bulb Forcing 101: How to Get Spring Blooms in the Dead of Winter By Kathy Jentz 'LGQ¶WJHWDOO\RXUEXOEVSODQWHGEHIRUH WKHJURXQG IUR]H" 'RQ¶WGLVFDUG WKHP ,QVWHDGSRW WKHPXS IRU LQGRRU IRUFLQJ and enjoy an early springtime in the depths of winter. ,I\RXZHUHDJRRGOLWWOHJDUGHQHUDQGJRWDOO\RXUEXOEVLQ the ground on time, there are still a few bulbs hanging around unsold at local area garden centers, and on major markdown VDOHVRQWKHZHEDQGWKURXJKPDLORUGHU6QDSWKHPXSQRZDW these bargain basement prices and consider yourself a savvy customer. Next year, when you place your bulb orders, add a IHZH[WUDWR\RXUTXDQWLWLHVWRVHWDVLGHVSHFL¿FDOO\IRUIRUFLQJ 1HYHUIRUFHGEXOEVEHIRUH"7KHUH¶VQRWKLQJWRLW+HUHDUHWKH EDVLFVDQGDIHZH[WUDWLSV,¶YHOHDUQHGIURPSDVWH[SHULPHQWV %XOE6HOHFWLRQ <RXGRQ¶WQHHGWREX\DQ\VSHFL¿FYD - riety or kinds. You can just select a few bulbs from those you would buy for outside plantings. After they are done livening up your winter home, you can plant them outside after the last frost so they will return annually with your other bulbs. 2QHQRWHRI FDXWLRQ ,QGRRUEXOEV FDQ VRPHWLPHVJLYHR̆ SRWHQW VPHOOV 6RPH SHRSOH ORYH WKHP VRPH GRQ¶W² 3DSHU - ZKLWHVDQGK\DFLQWKDUHHVSHFLDOO\QRWRULRXVLQWKHORYHKDWH FDWHJRU\([SHULPHQWDELWDQG\RX¶OOVRRQOHDUQZKLFKVFHQWV are to your tastes and which are just too overpowering for in- side your home. 7LPLQJ Keep in mind bulbs bloom within three-four ZHHNVRI UHPRYDO IURPFROG VWRUDJHZKLFK ODVWVDERXW ZHHNV6RLI\RXZDQWEORRPVIRUDVSHFL¿FRFFDVLRQ\RXQHHG WRZRUNDERXWZHHNVLQDGYDQFHIRUSODQWLQJWLPH %XOE3ODQWLQJ Regular bulbs should be planted in soil, but at a shallower depth than you would outside. The top of the EXOEVKRXOGEHHYHQZLWKWKHVRLOOLQHDQGKDYHDERXWLQFKHV of soil below for root development. The container should have drainage holes. %HFDXVH LW ZLOO EH LQVLGH \RXU KRXVH DQG QR RQH OLNHV D OHDN\PHVVRQWKHLUIXUQLWXUH,UHFRPPHQGOLQLQJWKHERWWRP of the pot with scrap landscape fabric and placing the pot on D JRRGVL]HG VDXFHU ¿OOHG ZLWK D OD\HU RI SHEEOHV 3ODFH WKH EXOEVSRLQW\VLGHXSZLWKWKH³ÀDW´VLGHWRZDUGVWKHRXWVLGH of the pot, and as tightly together as you like. Crowding them DFWXDOO\ PDNHV D QLFHU YLVXDO H̆HFW WKDQ VSDFLQJ WKHP IDU apart. Tight quarters also help the foliage from growing out WRRPXFK DQG ÀRSSLQJ RYHU:DWHU WKH QHZO\ SODQWHG EXOEV well. Place the pots in plastic newspaper sleeves to maintain a moist environment. &ROG 6WRUDJH5HPRYDO IRU )ORZHULQJ Place the SRWWHGXSEXOEVLQFROGVWRUDJHIRUDERXWZHHNV&ROGVWRU - DJHVKRXOGEHURXJKO\GHJUHHVDQGZLWKRXWOLJKW6WRU - age areas might include your basement, garage, or the crisp- HUGUDZHU LQ\RXUUHIULJHUDWRU'L̆HUHQWEXOEVKDYHGL̆HUHQW FROG F\FOH WLPHV EXWPRVW DUH EHWZHHQ ZHHNV 7XOLSV QHHGWKHPRVWWLPHDWDIXOOZHHNV 0DUN\RXUFDOHQGDUVVR \RXGRQ¶WIRUJHWDERXWWKHP :KHQ\RX¿UVWUHPRYHWKHPIURPVWRUDJHSODFHWKHPLQLQGL - UHFWOLJKWDQGDZD\IURPDKHDWVRXUFHWRSUHYHQW³OHJJLQHVV´ After two weeks, when they have sprouted and are sever- al inches high, move them to a sunny, warm window. Once DÀRZHUKHDG RU EXG VWDUWV WR GHYHORS \RX FDQ WKHQPRYH LW to your desired location with indirect sunlight to prolong the bloom life. Keep them watered regularly as soon as you re- move them from cold storage. Enjoy!
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Bethesda Therapeutic Massage
Marcia A. Snyder, L.M.T. Director NationallyCertiÞedinTherapeuticMassage and Bodywork Member,AmericanMassageTherapyAssociation Swedish,DeepTissue, MyofascialRelease, ReikiPractitioner 301-649-4216 www.bethesdatherapeuticmassage.com
PATHWAYS—Winter 21-22—37
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