Planting spring bulbs might seem like an odd thing to do as we head into autumn, but September is the moment to start if you want fragrant flowers indoors by Christmas.
Narcissus 'Paper White' and prepared hyacinths are especially well suited to festive displays, filling a room with scent as well as colour. Planted in a shallow bowl, topped with moss and grouped together for impact, they can make a beautiful centrepiece, windowsill display or thoughtful budget-friendly gift.
The key is getting the timing right. These bulbs need a little head start, so here’s what to plant now, how to get them established and what to do to encourage flowers in time for Christmas.
The golden rule is to make sure you get hold of 'prepared' or 'treated' bulbs which have been primed to flower quickly once you bring them inside and pot them up. You can force them yourself but that means starting in August/September and involves a lot more preparation.
Which variety?
• Hyacinths have dense, colourful flower spikes that fill the room with a sweet winter perfume . Hyacinthus orientalis 'Blue Pearl' is a rich, deep purple and white flowered, Hyacinthus orientalis 'White Pearl' is simply elegant. Pink Pearl requires the longest in cool conditions so if choosing this variety, the RHS recommend allowing 10 weeks of cool conditions followed by 22 days indoors.
• Narcissus 'Paper White' is a classic choice for festive forcing, producing a beautiful indoor display of daffodils at Christmas. Their long narrow stems are topped with clusters of sweet-scented pure white flowers.
• Amaryllis are a traditional choice for Christmas, typically red but are available in a wide spectrum of colours including pink, pure white, orange, yellow and rare green tones. Look for the Hippeastrum 'Christmas Gift' variety to plant in October for Christmas flowering.
Choose a container
You can use practically anything to plant the bulbs in. Traditional terracotta pots always look lovely but there are really stylish zinc and galvanized steel pots and troughs available. For an on-trend option, opt for a shallow white bowl – ideally footed for extra drama.
Prep the soil
All three – hyacinths, amaryllis and 'Paper White' – require a peat-free bulb fibre compost or peat-free multi-purpose compost. The soil that ready-potted hyacinths come in is often too light to hold the heavy flower up – especially when it gets a bit dry. Try a mix of half garden soil and half potting compost, this will be sturdy enough to hold up even the heaviest amaryllis stems.
Plant up
Fill your container with the soil and compost mixture and place the bulbs close, but not touching. Hyacinths and amaryllis tips should be just above the surface, whereas 'Paper White' needs to be covered and placed just below the soil surface. Keep the soil moist but not too wet, making sure the water is draining away properly. A layer of stones on the bottom will help.
Include a top dressing
Adding a layer of moss to cover the soil is an attractive way to dress the top of the pot but you should wait until stems have started to grow to apply. Look out for bags of moss (£12, B&Q) in garden centres, or scout some out in a shady spot in the garden.
Plunge into a cool spot
Amaryllis and 'Paper White' can be put on display instantly and prefer a sunny windowsill – although don't expect a blooming display just yet. Hyacinths, however, will need to be put in a cool dark place like a shed, garage or in a black sack. Leave for 8-12 weeks. A light water might be needed every week, so it's worth keeping an eye on how the top layer of soil feels.
Bringing into flower
Now comes the fun part. Amarylis and 'Paper White' will continue growing on their own but hyacinths need to come out of their dark hiding place to encourage blooms to grow. The RHS suggests putting it in a window in warmer surroundings when the shoots reach 5cm in length.
It's important to regularly check if the pots need watering as the thirsty plants need a light top up to help grow.
