Forcing Crocuses By March 8

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Every grower probably knows what tulips can be put on forcing. But they often ask, what other flowers can be grown for the New Year or International Women's Day - March 8? Many bulbs can be put on forcing. In particular, such beautiful and delicate flowers as crocuses. Moreover, it is not only beautiful, but also beneficial. Just imagine how much more expensive a bunch of flowers on March 8 will cost. While for this money you can buy several bags of crocus bulbs

Preparing the bulbs for planting

You should not pickle or soak crocus bulbs before planting in a pot for distillation. This can stimulate premature shoot growth. And the flowers will start growing earlier than expected. And now we need to provide the crocuses with a period of rest and cooling.

However, what to do when there are clearly visible signs of disease on the bulbs? First of all, if the bulbs are noticeably infected, then they should not be planted in the same pot as healthy ones. Well, when single low-risk lesions are visible, they can be treated with a point disinfecting agent. For example, moisten a cotton swab with brilliant green and walk through sore spots.

As a preventive measure, instead of bulbs, it is better to pickle the soil. This will not only disinfect the ground, but also reduce the risk of spreading the disease if some of the diseased bulbs were still not noticed by the florist and ended up in a common pot. Only after that, you do not need to immediately lower the pot of onions into a cool basement. It is necessary to let the soil dry out a little.

Which pot to choose for distillation

Choose a pot in such a way that the bulbs are placed in it at a distance of approximately 1 cm from each other. As for the height, it should be such that a good drainage layer can be arranged, and the bulb itself was planted at a depth of 2-3 of its height.

Many are planting bulbs for fitting into low pots. This is a good way if you intend to get a lush bloom of large flowers. But it is bad when you intend to plant the plants in the ground in the future, because in such conditions the roots develop poorly, the old bulb is depleted, and the new replacement bulb is not formed. Therefore, choose a pot based on the results you would like to achieve.

Storage of pots until distillation

After planting the bulbs in pots, they need to arrange a period of cooling and dry rest. The pot is left indoors at a temperature of + 5 … + 8? С. They should stay here for about 15 weeks.

It is necessary to bring the pots into the heat to the light approximately 2-3 weeks before the moment of the desired flowering. And when your plants finally bloom, in order to prolong this magical period, you should keep the pot cool, at a temperature of about + 18 ° C.

When forcing helps out the grower and saves the bulb

It is possible to put an onion for distillation not only for reasons of beauty or economy, but also in order to preserve the planting material. How is it, you ask, because forcing depletes the bulb, and in the summer it is no longer necessary to wait for it to bloom.

But sometimes this is the only way to save the planting material. For example, when you ordered a purchase online and the package arrived too late. It is already too late to land in the garden. But leaving them to lie in a bag in a cellar or refrigerator until spring is dangerous - the planting material may disappear. And in some cases, the bulbs fall into the hands of the buyer already with sprouts.

Then feel free to plant the bulbs for distillation. Let the buds bloom not for the holiday, but a little earlier or a little later. But your flowers will not be lost.