Expert: Long Island Gardener - 11/28/2006

Question
I am in 61821 Illinois. I just wanted to try it once thought it would help me get thru the winter. Is there a better bulb without much care to raise? How can I get the right bulbs from the nursery here?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I read somewhere you could plant the bulbs in dishes with rocks and then it was said you need to put alcohol in the water but I forgot how much alcohol to use. Can you tell me or will plain water work?
-----Answer-----
Alcohol or Clorox will both destroy bacteria and keep the roots going on Paperwhite Narcissus. But alcohol has an interesting effect on the growth habits of these winter bloomers.  Researchers discovered that a solution of alcohol and water stunted the growth Paperwhites - and I mean that in a good way.  They were shorter, but just as fragrant.  See Cornell University's Cooperative Extension website (http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/faculty/wmiller/bulb/Pickling_your_Paperw) for the full report and precise measurements.

You can use plain water with the rocks, but the bulbs may not last as long, and the gases of the decomposing roots significantly shorten the life of the blooms.  The key is using the right bulbs here.  Normal bulbs do not generally work unless they have been cold-treated - kept in storage for an extended period at low temperatures prior to shipping - before you try to grow them.

What is it you are trying to grow?

Answer
Bulbs that need no pre-chilling to bloom are the easiest and most foolproof.  Paperwhite Narcissus, which comes in yellow and in white, is the easiest one I know.  These are probably sold all over town; Smith & Hawkins, Archaeology and Williams-Sonoma stores often sell them, and they can be purchased by mail order from Van Engelen Nurseries (www.vanengelen.com).  Place in a dish or bowl with stones to keep them upright, and just add water.  A few weeks later they're in full bloom.  Some are delightfully fragrant; others are scentless but pretty as can be.  They are discarded after the blooms are spent but are cheap enough that disposing of them is fairly painless.

Hyacinths and Tulips are also good for winter forcing, but the work needed to do this at home can be a royal pain in the bazooka.  Pots are cumbersome and need to be kept cold, but not too cold; they need bright light once they sprout and the pots can be heavy.  After all that, if you blow one of the steps, you'll find out later because they'll send up flower buds and then everything turns brown instead of blooming.  If you're a beginner, hold off on these until you have a little experience.  That said, Hyacinths are wonderful because of the fragrance - it will fill a large living room and if you put pots by the front door your mailman will love delivering your mail.

For what it's worth: The Voodoo Lily (Arum cornutum) is an odd, weird flower that grows without sun, soil, or even water.  Getting one to bloom is about as easy as it gets.  And they are sold here and there by bulb specialists.  I don't recommend it, though, unless you're planning on a visit from, say, an unwanted guest - this plant counts on a species of fly for pollination, so it smells like rotting meat.  Yuck.

Any questions?