BULB GROWING INDOORS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 78, 15 March 1935, Page 10

BULB GROWING INDOORS

'Jhe practice ot growing bulbs m mnaimnfiil bowls, with the Use of peat fibre, is happily on the increase, fins is understandable as, m addition to the added beauty ot pretty bowls, there is less risk ol spilt water. I’eat fibre mixture can be bought ready lor use at any local florist's for a small sum. This contains ground shell, charcoal, and special fertilising ingredients. I fall odds and hyacinths are the easiest bulbs to grow in tins way, and 1 would recommend beginners to try them first, as there is much more likelihood of failure with such things as tulips or freeslas. The first batch may be planted now, and the second a couple of weeks later, so that they flower in succession. Hyacinths bloom first, and daffodils are slower. Any sort of glazed pot, bowl or I vase can be used, and there is no liar I of the fibre damaging the bo-wls. Lse the fibre damp and fill the bowls three parts full, pressing the fibre down nrmly. 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 aw ay. stand the bowls in a cupboard, or ; plunge them under the fine coal ashes ■ out ot doors. Air is necessary, and j it a closed cupboard is used, leave the door slightly open. Keep cool, airy i moist ani uark until the top growth ■ commences. Remove into the light | gradually and water spaungly until I leaves and Howers are developing well. | When the flowers appear, place the bowls in the lull light oi the window but still in a cool, airy room. Useful hardy varieties. —Among the pop.r, King Alfred and Sir Watkin single da. udils, Golden Spur, Finale all easy to grow indoors. Of pot hyacinths ’La Victoire (crimson) Aloreno (waxy pink) 1/Innocence (White) King ot the Blues, and City oi Haarlem (yellow) are good for bowls and pots. \ ery early flow ers, such a,s crocuses and 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 m a cool room until the flowers are well developed. Most of the failures with tulips are due, 1 think, to faulty watering. Jf the soil becomes too dry, the plants receive a check, which is fatal to tulip culture. And the soil must not be too wet, either, a happy medium is required. Scillas, anemones, grape hyacinths and Spanish irises can also be grown in peat fibre, and make a change from the more comnion flowers, but they are not so sure, to succeed as are hyacinths and daffodil.-.