BULB-GROWING INDOORS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 28

BULB-GROWING INDOORS

USEFUL HINTS

Ihe practice of growing bulbs in ornamental bowls, with the use of peat fibre, is happily on the increase, i his is understandable, as. in addition to the added beauty of pretty bowls, there is less need for watering, and as there is no drainage to the bowls, there is less risk of spilt water.

Peat fibre mixture can be bought ready for use at any local florist’s for a small sum. This contains ground

Daffodils and hyacinths are the j easiest bulbs to grow in this way, and I 1 would recommend beginners to try i them first, as there is much more ; likelihood of failure with such things ias tulips or freesias. The first batch may be planted now, and the second | a couple of weeks later, so that they i flower in succession. Hyacinths bloom first, and daffodils are slower, j Any sort of glazed pot, bowl or vase l can be used, and there is no fear of I the fibre damaging the bowls. Use the fibre damp, and fill the bowls three parts full, pressing the fibre down firmly. Press the bulbs firmly Into the fibre until they are three parts covered and then sprinkle a little more fibre round them. Plant close together, but do not allow the bulbs to touch each other. WAter thoroughly, holding the bowl on one side to allow surplus moisture to drain away. Stand tile bowls in a cupboard, or plunge them under the fine coal ashes I out of doors. Air is necessary, and I 'f a closed cupboard is used, leave the | door slightly open. Keep cool, airy, moist and dark until the top growth commences. Remove into the light gradually, and water sparingly until leaves and flowers are developing well. When the flowers appear, place the bowls In the full light of the window but still in a cooi, airy room. USEFUL HARDY VARIETIES I Among the single daffodils, Golden Spur, Emperor, King Alfred and Sir Wat kin are all easy to grow indoors. Of pot hyacinths, La Vict.oire (crimson), Moreno (waxy pink), L’lnnocence (white), King of the Blues, and City of Haarlem (yellow) are good for bowls and pots. Very early flowers, such as crocuses aud snowdrops, may be grown indoors, but unless they can be kept very cool, failure will result. Never try to bring them on by putting them in a warm, dry room. Buy them for indoor culture in single colours—yellow, purple, lavender, or white—and keep the pots In a cool room until the flowers are well developed. Most of the failures with tulips are due, 1 think, to faulty watering, if the soil becomes too dry, the plants receive a check, which is fatal to tulip culture. Aud the soil must not he too wet, either; a happy medium is required. Scillas, anemones, grape hyacinths and Spanish irises can also he grown in peat fibre, and make a change from the more common flowers, but they are not so sure to succeed as are hyacinths and daffodils.