Fiddle Leaf Fig

Text by Katie Dubow for the September/October 2013 issue of Horticulture.

When you think about forcing bulbs, paperwhites and amaryllis are probably the first ones that come to mind—and honestly, they're usually the only ones people try. But this season, I'd really encourage you to shake things up by growinggrape hyacinth(Muscari)in pots. Trust me, they're such a delightful surprise!

Standing about eight inches tall, grape hyacinths are wonderfully easy to grow during those mid-winter months in a container, in water, or even in a simple paper bag. Their tight little flower clusters really do look like tiny bunches of grapes, which is how they got their common name. Don't let their small size fool you, though—these flowers make a big impact in containers with their delicate fragrance and that striking blue color. There are also varieties with white or two-tone flowers that I just adore.

How to Force Grape HyacinthsGrape hyacinths happen to be the favorite bulbs to force of third-generation grower Hans Langeveld, owner of Dutch bulb companyLongfield Gardens. For forcing muscari or other spring-flowering bulbs, he recommends starting with top quality, good-size bulbs and then deciding how you want to force and display them. His tip? Plant them in masses in a container, just like you would out in the garden—I've found this approach looks absolutely gorgeous.

"There are many ways to force a bulb," Langeveld says, "But the most important factor is chill time." From my experience, he's spot on—Muscari need eight to ten weeks of cold treatment to bloom properly.

Fill a pot loosely with potting mix and set the bulbs side by side (not touching), pointed end up. Cover loosely with soil, leaving just the tips of the bulbs exposed. It's really that simple!

Give them a thorough watering and then move the container to a cool, dark spot (around 40˚F)—a basement, garage, or refrigerator works great. If you're using the fridge, make sure to keep the bulbs away from fruits and vegetables. As they ripen, they release a gas that can reduce the bulbs' ability to bloom, which I learned the hard way one year!

Keep an eye on your container over the weeks. When the shoots reach about two inches tall, it's time to bring it out of storage. Keep the soil moist, and gradually move the pot toward a sunny window. I like to turn the container several times a week—it really helps encourage nice, even growth.

Grape hyacinths also respond beautifully to the paper-bag method of forcing. Just punch a few small holes in a paper bag, place the bulbs inside, and loosely close it up. Check regularly for shoots, and then plant the bulbs into a container, or grow them on in a bulb vase or shallow dish with rocks. I love how versatile these little bulbs are!

Flower buds should appear on those tiny stalks within two to three weeks of sprouting. Muscari do tend to have shorter stems when forced, but here's a trick I've used: place the plants in a warm but still dark spot for a few days, or pop a paper cone over them to "draw" the flower out of the bulbs. One thing to keep in mind—forced bulbs aren't likely to flower again, so once the blooms fade, it's okay to let them go. I know it's hard, but think of it as a one-time winter treat!