Don’t you wish you could enjoy spring even earlier? We found a solution for you! Bring a little piece of spring to your apartment by forcing bulbs.

Many of us recognize tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth flowers in late winter to early spring. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can enjoy their beauty indoors with these tricks.

How To Choose Bulbs

When you are shopping for bulbs, look for ones that are firm and free of any mildew. If you see ones that have started flowering at the grocery store or garden centre, pick up the ones that have fewer flowers open – this will ensure you can enjoy blooms longer.

Planting Spring Bulbs Indoors

Follow these easy tips to plant your indoor spring flowering bulb collection.

1.       First, choose the type of flowers you’re looking to grow indoors.

2.       After you choose your bulbs, pick a container deep enough to have a few inches below the base of the bulbs for soil and roots. You’ll also want the container to be tall enough to cover the bulbs to the neck.

3.       Fill the bottom of the container with some small stones and then some potting soil.

4.       Place the bulbs in the container. Play around with spacing – you can do singles or add more for a fuller effect.

5.       Cover the bulbs with soil – about an inch over the top of the bulbs.

6.       Follow the recommended chill time for the type you are growing. You can easily use your fridge for this.

7.       Keep the soil damp – not soaking wet, which can cause rotting.

8.       After the chill time, begin to wake up the bulbs. Give them a couple of weeks of warmer (not hot!) temperature and indirect sunlight.

9.       As the bulbs begin to shoot up, give them more sun.

Best Spring Bulbs For Indoors

The best bulbs to grow indoors include :

Tulips

Bloom time: 2-3 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 10-16 weeks

Daffodils

Bloom time: 2-3 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 2-3 weeks

Grape Hyacinth

Bloom time: 2-3 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 8-15 weeks

Snowdrops

Bloom time: 15 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 2 weeks

Crocus

Bloom time: 2-3 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 8-15 weeks

Hyacinth

Bloom time: 2-3 weeks after chilling

Chill time: 12-15 weeks

The chilling time is to mimic the temperatures that bulbs would face in the winter thaw. Keep in mind that to get the flowers to bloom inside, it can vary by each type. You will be able to find details about the bloom period on the package.

• Chill in September, bloom in January
• Chill in October, bloom in February
• Chill in November, bloom in March
• Chill in December, bloom in April

Decorating Tips

You can choose to move the bulbs into a decorative container that suits your décor scheme. You can give your arrangements a little bit more style by adding reindeer moss, polished stones, marbles around the base of the plants. Add some height and texture with dry branches. There are even some guides on forcing bulbs indoors in water.

Save Bulbs For Next Year

Once you have enjoyed your indoor spring garden, you can store them for next year. All you need to do is remove old flowers and foliage. When the plant finishes flowering, you can cut the stems two inches above the bulb. Remove it from the soil and brush off any dirt. Store in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant next year.