Forcing bulbs, or the art of coaxing bulbs into bloom early, is as easy as a trip to a garden center. At Hillenmeyer, pots are stored in a cellar under the old warehouse. Amaryllis were potted up on Tuesday. Spring bulbs will be potted later and brought out in time for Valentine's Day or Easter, Petro said. Easiest for forcing, said the Netherlands FlowerBulb Information Center, are large-flowering crocus, hyacinth, muscari and iris reticulata.
Daffodils require very bright light, such as a greenhouse, to flower well.
Too little sun and the result is leggy growth and no blooms. Take a clean clay pot, put a couple of inches of soilless-mix in the bottom, arrange the bulbs and cover with at least 3 inches of soil. Water thoroughly and set in a cool, dark spot. After 10 weeks, bring the pot out, set in a sunny window and keep it watered. Dress up the pot a little by sprinkling annual rye seed over the soil.