Bright colour and attractive scent are special features you can add to Christmas from indoor bulbs.
If you get cracking and plant your bulbs in Autumn you will have gifts to give away or an indoor show to be proud of.

Indoor Hyacinth Bulbs for Christmas

• Hyacinths are fragrant and colourful. For Christmas you need to buy specially ‘prepared’ bulbs which have been treated to flower early
• Buy new bulbs each year and select those that have been treated to flower early.
• Pot up in early autumn and keep in cool dark conditions.
• Bring into the light a few weeks before Christmas, then into the warmth. Flowers will last longer if not too warm.
• Do not let your pots dry out.

Smaller Bulbs for Christmas

• Crocus can be encouraged to flower for Christmas. Try a special pot with holes in the side where bulbs can peak out. Crocus chrysanthus are the small species best suited for Christmas.
• Iris danfordiae are likely to give a good show if kept cool until ready to flower.
• Tulips may be forced into Christmas flower but normally flower later.

Amaryllis bulbs for Christmas

• Amaryllis or Hippeastrums are very large bulbs that are grown in individual pots.
• Generally producing one stem topped by several funnel shaped flowers.
• Often given as presents at Christmas ‘boxed bulbs’ are usually well received
• Bulbs need preparing or treating to flower by Christmas

Daffodil bulbs for Christmas

• The Narcissus family of bulbs generally flower a bit after Christmas but if you get an early start and encourage root growth in Autumn you may get daffodils for Christmas.
• Aim for the easy to grow miniature daffodils like tete-a-tete.
• Narcissus Pheasants eye or Paper-white bulbs are scented and desirable flowers.