by Joel LaRusic – Author of ‘Start & Run a Landscape Business’

Nothing cheers up people like beautiful flowers and this is especially true in the winter months when we are starved for the vivid colors that we enjoy in our landscapes in other seasons. As we long for the spring explosion of colors here is a great – and cheap – way to say thank you to your customers (feel free to also thank your partner, family members, your neighbors and even yourself too!). Gift the gift of sunshine with flowering bulbs in the winter. You can force bulbs anytime of year but remember that you will want to start this process 3 – 4 months before you plan on giving them out.

Forcing bulbs – inducing them to flower outside of their natural cycle – is an easy three step process. First we plant the bulbs, then we trick them into thinking it’s winter and then we simulate some spring weather so that the flowers come bursting to life. Here it is in more detail.

Step One – Plant the bulbs
Get a plant pot… actually if you are going to be giving a lot of these away get a bunch of plant pots. A four inch pot will fit one hyacinth, 3 tulips, 3 daffodils or a whole bunch of smaller bulbs like crocus or snowdrops. This would be a suitable gift for many of your customers. If you really want to impress go with a larger pot where you can put 3 or 5 hyacinths or a lovely bunch of daffodils and/or tulips. Clay pots are nice but that could get expensive. If you use a plastic pot you can always cover the pot with shiny foil before presenting it to your lucky clients.

Put about 3 inches (8 cm) of soil on the bottom of each pot and then nestle as many spring flowering bulbs as you can without having them touch each other. Use a good potting soil that contains peat, sand and vermiculite. Now cover the bulbs with more soil to the depth indicated in the chart below (note that some bulbs like to have their tops poking just out of the soil). When they’re done give the bulbs a thorough watering.

Step Two – Trick the bulbs into thinking it’s winter time
Spring flowering bulbs need 10 – 18 weeks of cold and dark before they will perform. You can simulate these conditions by putting all of your pots in the dark and putting them in a cold – but not freezing – location. To ensure the bulbs see no light put them in one or more cardboard boxes, thick brown paper bags or black plastic bags and close them up so no light gets in.

As for the creating a cold atmosphere some possibilities are a fridge (OK, not that practical unless you can make some room in the beer fridge), a cellar, an unheated or underground garage, an insulated cold frame or under the porch. Wherever it is the temperatures should remain in the 35 – 48 degrees Fahrenheit (2 – 9 degrees Celsius) area. You must keep the pots moist throughout the cooling period (check them weekly) but don’t keep them soggy or the bulbs will rot.

Leave the bulbs in this location for the period indicated on the chart below. The bulb is very busy growing roots during this time so it is important not to skimp on the suggested times. Bringing the bulbs out too early will mean shorter flowers and possible even no flowers at all.

Step Three – Telling the bulbs ‘It’s Spring Time!’
When the bulbs have finished their cooling off period it’s time to again fool them – this time into thinking it is spring time. The plants should have 1 – 3 inch (2.5 – 7 cm) shoots by this time. Bring the pots into a cool location in the house. Temperatures in the 50s (10 – 14 Celsius) are ideal. Some suggestions are an unheated entrance way, a north facing window or a back bedroom. Make sure the plants do not have any direct sunlight – filtered/indirect light is OK. For best results turn the pots every couple of days so the stems grow nice and straight. Once the buds have appeared on the plant (generally 2 – 4 weeks as per the chart below) you can move them wherever you like without worrying about light. If possible though, put them in the direct sun for a couple of days to get the blooms started and then present them to your beneficiaries.

The bulbs require no care after they have been handed out however for the longest display (couple of weeks) it is best to keep them out of direct sunlight. Unless extra special care is taken (for example fertilizing the bulbs before and after the cooling period) the bulbs are a one-hit wonder and can be discarded when the bloom is done. Planting them in the garden will likely result in a poor display next year.

What kind of bulbs to use

All of the bulbs in the chart above make great forcing bulbs. Hyacinths are my favorite as they make a stunning display, some varieties are beautifully fragrant and even a single flower in a small pot looks great. As well, look for ‘pre-cooled’ Hyacinth varieties at the garden shop (the same process explained above will still apply but the ‘winter’ period will be much shorter).

If you are using 4 inch pots go with a single hyacinth, 3 daffs or tulips or a really dense planting of one of the smaller bulbs (Muscari, crocus, snowdrops). If you are using a larger pot plant your larger bulbs in groups or 3 or 5 remembering the same rule that singles look weak.

When to give these to customers

Anytime is a good time to make your customers feel important but this particular gift is best presented in the winter months – say December, January or even February. This is great timing because not only is the plant a refreshing site but it is the time of year when you want to remind your customer that spring is coming soon and it is almost time to start thinking about the lawn and garden.

Include a card or note with the plant but not an advertisement – that’s tacky. Rather, follow-up in a couple of weeks and get them signed up for another season. Spring flowering bulbs in the winter is an excellent and low cost way to remind your customers that you care!

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