"Ron Clark" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:42:35 -0500, "madgardener"
wrote this (or the missive included this):
and more snipped and whacked

And I thought that bulbs started in this way should be placed in the
dark for some weeks before being brought into the light. At least
that's what the instructions said on one we acquired for Xmas.

and what kind of bulbs were these? Paperwhites? Amaryllis? For hyacinths
(and I think paperwhites) the bulb after ten weeks of chilling of at least
40o F in the fridge (there can be NO fruit in the fridge, as ripening fruit
kills the blossom budlet inside the center of the bulb) can be started in
forcing. And where you might be thinking of one way of forcing, you DO have
to plant up your bulbs in pots of soil, place in a cold, dark spot for about
ten weeks and then bring out.

Here's what John Scheepers Beauty from Bulbs catalog says on the Paperwhite
Ziva: Pot up paperwhites from September through February for blooms in four
to six weeks. Prior to potting, store them at 50oF to 60o F in a dry, dark
spot. Plant in soil or pebbles, water and place in indirect sunlight until
foliage is 4 inches tall. Then, place in a brighter sunlight and keep
well-watered for lush trusses of fragrant flowers. And no, I don't work for
Sheepers, I just like their bulbs.................. www.johnscheepers.com

and the picture is a wonderful shot of a glass bowl (staged nicely, of
course against a window looking out over snow, as Scheepers is located in
Conneticut where they get winter) of Ziva paperwhites held securely by black
aquarium rock cradled in an iron support with three feet. Below in the
corner of that page with the various Amaryllis they have a picture of
someone's hand holding a few aquarium rocks, and paperwhite bulbs in pebbles
and water in a square ceramic non-draining container.




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