Having fresh flowers on the table in January is one of my favourite ways to celebrate the new year. When they’re forced bulbs, the blooms last a long time and bring a hint of the spring that is to come. Leading up to the holidays, many types of bulbs are available at stores for holiday tables to be brightened by amaryllis, paperwhites, and hyacinths. But they can be pricey! Being a frugal Maritimer, I always wait until just after Christmas and try to pick some up when they’re at least half price. It gives me something to look forward to at a dark time of year, and I also enjoy them more when they’re not competing with Christmas decor.
“Forcing” just means giving a plant the conditions it needs to coax it to bloom or grow by giving it the conditions it needs. Producers do all of the work to prepare the bulbs to be ready to grow inside, so that when you buy them in store, they’re ready to plant.
Amaryllis bulbs are giant, and a single bulb is usually packed in a box for somewhere between $15-20. They most often are available in white, red, and variegated, in a box with a plastic pot and growing medium, and have no scent. I had heard of them being sold as self contained waxed bulbs in the UK, but has never seen waxed ones here - but this year I found some at a deep discount at Sobeys after Christmas - for $2 each! The waxed ones require nothing from you other than to be removed from the bag they came in - the bulb has everything it needs to grow. I gave a couple of waxed ones to friends and bought myself one in a box labeled as white, but which seems to be red and white as it’s emerging - with two flower stems! They are not hardy in this area, so they can’t be planted outside like some others, but after the blooms are finished, you can give the bulb the royal treatment to try to get it to bloom again next year.
Paperwhites (first photo) have clusters of small fragrant white flowers on long stems. Some people compare the scent to cat pee - I have grown to love it. In the same way as amaryllis, they can usually be bought in a box with a pot and growing medium. The flower stems can be quite tall and tend to flop over, so they can be staked or they can be cut and placed in a vase for a non-floppy display. Placing them in a spot with plenty of light after planting also helps them to bloom on shorter stems, and adding vodka to the water is a trick that stresses the bulb and reduces growth so they don’t get so floppy. Like amaryllis, they’re not hardy in this zone (I am in 6b; they need zones 8-10 to grow outdoors). So they can be composted after you’ve enjoyed them, or if you’re in zones 8-10, you can plant them outside for some enjoyment next year.
Hyacinth bulbs often come in a box, containing a single bulb and a uniquely shaped glass, which you fill with water until it almost touches the bottom of the bulb. Be patient, and eventually roots will emerge from the base of the bulbs and fill the water. These are hardy here in 6b, and can be planted out later in the spring once the ground has warmed. Like the paperwhites, they have a strong, heady scent. After they’ve finished flowering, just set them aside until the ground is warm enough to plant them out.
But don’t worry if you’ve missed the post-holiday sale train! There still might be stragglers out there if you keep your eyes peeled, and even if you can’t find any, over the next several weeks until spring officially arrives, stores have tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils already planted in pots. After you’ve enjoyed the blooms in your home, these can be planted out wherever those bulbs will overwinter - after they’ve had their moment, just set them in a cool porch or garage, still in the pot, and plant them when the soil is workable. They will take this year to rest, and will bloom for you again next year if they’re hardy in your climate.
Pro tips:
Check the bulbs in the package before you buy them - you want plump and firm ones, not squishy, and with no signs of mold. Open that box right up. For amaryllises, look for the rounded, 3D tip of a flower showing - sometimes they only grow the flat, 2D leaves which emerge from the centre.
Plant bulbs in pretty pots - my favourite solution for most houseplants is to plant them in a plastic pot with drainage so they can easily be checked and moisture can be managed, but then place that pot within a prettier ceramic or pottery one so they look nicer. For bulbs, you can also use moss or straw or wood chips on the soil surface for a more polished look.
