Ideas for bulbs

[rary]

I am looking for suggestions of bulbs that children can plant up in November, its preferably to be a bulb that can keep some interest for the children as it grows, oh and bulbs that are reasonably easy to acquire

[Jay-ell]

Hyacinth in jars?

[nickdub]

daffodils - Paperwhite is a good scented one for growing in a pot.

[Greenleaves]

40, 60 and 100 watt

Not easy to get hold of nowadays though

I like crocuses as they are first to show

[HoneyChild]

I like doing a bulb lasanga. It's made up of layers of compost and different bulbs. I put some compost in the bottom of the pot, then some tulips, more compost, regular sized daffodils, compost, miniature daffodils, compost, crocus, compost, iris reticulata, compost, and finally grape hyacinth. I find this gives a flower display gowing from about Feb through to May as they all come up at different times.

[rary]

Thanks for that he suggest



Thanks for the suggestions, I think the lasagne bulb planting would be too much H.C. but I will try that myself, Jay-ell would the bulbs still grow and flower if I pushed tooth pricks into them to hold them over a jam jar, and nick how tall do paperwhites grow and would they grow like the hyacinths, suspended over water, or do they need to be planted? GL I have a fair stock of 60 and100 watt bulbs, but I cant get them to grow, perhaps you could throw some light on that

[nickdub]

Thanks for that he suggest

... and nick how tall do paperwhites grow and would they grow like the hyacinths,

Lots of info on the Web, try this link as a starter :-

https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_...id.2000008266/

[cheops]

How about some alliums? Vigorous and strong their rapid growth can be seen and measured by the children each day once they appear. Let them crush a little of the leaves and they will tell you they smell like onions. The flowers can be huge depending on the variety and they will notice how bees are attracted to the flowers. After the flowers are finished the seed heads are showy and the actual seeds are big enough for the children to feel and examine.

[Scarlet]

What about some Amaryllis? They could do these for Christmas presents. They are very special I think.

....and there’s nowt wrong with garlic, they can separate from the bulb and plant up in the autumn, watch them grow and plait to store.

[Scarlet]

This is worth a read
https://www.dougstewart.co.uk/forcin...for-christmas/

[Jay-ell]

You can get special bulb jars for hyacinth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQuDFlNdCr4
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Outflower...=hyacinth+vase
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Hyacinth-...=hyacinth+vase
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Taylors-P...=hyacinth+vase

or yiu can use a jar whose mouth is smaller than the bulb
https://houseandhome.com/decorating-...ing-hyacinths/

[mothhawk]

What about some Amaryllis? ...

Amaryllis, or hippeastrum as we are supposed to call them now, is a great idea. Once they start into growth they grow almost visibly, certainly enough each day to be measured with a ruler or tape. If the children had one (or preferably two )bulbs each, they could have a competition to see whose grows the most each day, who has the longest stem, the biggest flower...

Get the biggest bulbs you can, for a spectacular display.

[Jay-ell]

Electric bulbs need companion planting - you need to put them next to current bushes

[elsie-scot]

I would agree with previous posts, hyacinths in glass jar are fun and interesting while they grow. We have done for quite a few years. Bought the special glasses with bulb initially from Lidl. Dead easy. Fill jar up to neck with water, rest bulb so base touches water, cover bulb with cone shape hat. Wait for shoot, then remove cone.

Watching the roots grow is amazing. Also it usually shows that the ones that grow better roots before making much shoot, grow better flowers and last longer.

[Scarlet]

If the children had one (or preferably two )bulbs each..,.

I like that idea - I love double presents