Peculiarities of forcing tulips in winter

Tulips are very popular right now. Many gardeners successfully grow them indoors, not just in the spring, for Women's Day. Early forcing in winter allows for fresh flowers on almost any date. To ensure a successful outcome, carefully time the planting and select the appropriate variety are crucial. tulips and create special conditions for the awakening of bulbs at an unnatural time for them.

Planting dates

When determining the timing of forcing, the biological characteristics of the flower are taken into account. Before planting, the bulb must develop the rudiments of all the necessary organs. This requires a supply of nutrients. Large bulbs without signs of damage are selected for forcing. Each bulb should weigh more than 25 g.

When calculating the timing of planting material for forcing, the following main periods of tulip life are taken into account:

1. Planting and rooting of bulbs takes 16 to 22 weeks depending on the crop variety. During this stage, the planting material is kept at a temperature of 5°C to 8°C in a cool, dark room.
2. It takes 3 to 4 weeks for buds to appear. During this time, the sprouted plants are kept at a temperature of 12°C to 15°C in a room with moderate lighting.

By adding up the durations of these periods for each tulip variety, the exact duration of forcing is determined. Then, the resulting period is counted from the desired date and the time for planting the seedlings for germination is determined.

Preparing the bulbs

Dwarf varieties are selected for home cultivation. Planting material is purchased from a store, where it is already prepared for forcing. When using home-grown bulbs, they are stored under special conditions until forcing. After digging, they are left at a temperature of 25°C for a month. Then, the temperature is lowered to 22°C in August. In September, the planting material is transferred to a room with a temperature of 17°C.

The selected bulbs are peeled. Any bulbs with damage, cuts, or suspicious spots are not used for planting. They are then soaked in a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour to disinfect them.

Planting and growing

The bulbs are planted in soil mixed from the following components:

• 2 parts garden soil;
• 1 part compost;
• 1 part river sand.

Add a small amount of wood ash to the prepared soil mixture as an organic fertilizer. Plant three tulips in 11 cm diameter flowerpots. The bottoms should have drainage holes to allow excess moisture to drain. Leave a distance of 5 to 10 mm between the bulbs and the sides of the container. Avoid planting them too deeply to avoid prolonging germination.

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After planting, the soil is watered with a calcium nitrate solution of 10 liters of water and 20 grams of the solution. If the soil level settles, top it up with more soil mixture. The containers are placed in a cool room for rooting and germination. Water them periodically. Maintain humidity at 80%. If the emerging shoots begin to stretch, lower the temperature by another 2-3°C.

Forty-five days before the expected budding date, the tulip pots are moved to a warmer room where the temperature does not drop below 15°C. After the temperature change, keep the lighting dim for the first few days. Plants that haven't reached the desired height are shaded with thick paper or cardboard caps. After a week, the air temperature is increased to 18°C. To prevent excessive stem elongation, provide additional lighting. To do this, turn on fluorescent lamps for 5-6 hours in the morning and evening.

Once flowering has finished, the faded buds are removed, but the foliage and stems are left on. They are cared for as before for three weeks, with continued irrigation. Then the bulbs are dug up and dried for 15 days at 24°C. Then the temperature is lowered to 20°C and the bulbs are kept there for 30 days. After this, the planting material is stored at 15°C until planting outdoors.

Many gardeners force tulips into bloom in winter. By following the correct technique, buds can appear on any date. This is achieved by creating suitable conditions for the plants, maintaining the right temperature and light conditions. With proper care, you can then achieve a vibrant bouquet at any time.