With a little planning and effort you can enjoy beautiful blooms even in the dead of winter.

There are many spring flowering bulbs that can be forced into blooming during the winter to warm your home up on chilly days. There are two types of bulbs that can be forced into blooming. One group requires chilling while the other requires much less effort. In this article, you will learn both methods on how to force your spring flowering bulbs to bloom in the dead of winter.

Method 1: No chilling required

These are some of the types of bulbs that can be forced without a chilling process: Amaryllis, Paper-White Narcissus, Freesias, Calla Lilies, Autumn Crocus, Lily of the Valley, Dutch Iris, Bluebells & Fairy Lilies.

Step 1: Pot bulbs

You can use either potting soil or water. If you use water, place bulbs so that they are not touching and fill with pebbles so that the necks of the bulbs stick out about 1/2″ above the surface of your pebbles. Fill with water to cover the bottom 1/3 of the bulbs.

Step 2: Start flowering process

Place your pots in a cool (40-55 degrees F) location that receives indirect light for 2 weeks until you have a good 2-3 inches of top growth then move to a warm, bright location. Your bulbs should bloom in about 4 weeks.

Method 2: Chilling period required

Most bulbs required a chilling period in order to be forced into blooming. You can reference how much chilling time is required by checking the label on the bulbs when you buy them. Here are some popular types of bulbs that require pre-chilling: Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils & Crocuses.

Step 1: Pot bulbs

Shallow pots or bulb pans work best for forcing but you can use any container that you wish as long as it has adequate drainage. Fill the pot 3/4 full with potting mix preferably peat based for better moisture retention. Then pack as many bulbs as can fit and cover them with about 1″ of more potting mix.

Step 2: Chill bulbs

The appropriate temperature for the chilling period is about 35-45 degrees F. Depending on where you live you can store your chilling bulbs outdoors, in an unheated basement, crawlspace or attic, partially heated garage, or refrigerator. The length of time required for the chilling period depends on the variety of bulb. Most bulbs require between 12-18 weeks. Check the package for required chilling time when you purchase your bulbs. It is better to leave them chilling for more time than less, if they aren’t allowed to chill for long enough the bloom may not develop fully. Water occasionally to prevent the bulbs from drying out.

Step 3: Bring bulbs out

Once the chilling period is complete it is time to move your bulbs into a warm location inside your house with indirect sunlight. When top growth is about 4-5″ tall, it’s time to move your bulbs into some direct sunlight to encourage budding. Then when you start to see some color in the buds, your plants should be moved back into indirect sunlight to see the best results from your blooms.

For more information on bulbs, check out our article Tips for Planting Perennial Bulbs.