Lifting Bulbs for Forcing Indoors

Hi - I've just lifted some narcissus bulbs that had green growth pushing through the soil for forcing indoors. Whilst digging, I also came across some bulbs that had no green growth nor roots showing but were otherwise plump, tight skinned & healthy looking. Do I bring them indoors with the rest or leave them where they are?

Thanks!

 

Can't help sorry, never lifted bulbs that were outdoors for indoors. I did buy narcissus bulbs for indoors though.. haven't seen much movement in them tbh. I'd leave the ones without shoots/roots there.. they might be a later flowering type

 

I didn't know they'd be different. I bought them off a stall last Dec for the indoors & planted them in the ground after flowering. Green started poking through the ground last week so I dug them out & brought them in.

 

I agree with Linz on leaving the un-rooted bulbs where they are. If you disturbed the roots of the others when lifting them, without the soil they were growing in, then there's a chance they won't continue to grow or flower this season.

 

Hi Herbs and Flowers,

When bulbs are planted direct in the ground outside you should really leave them there to grow naturally. When you move them you disturb the roots etc and also bringing them into the warmth all of a sudden could make them bolt or even flower prematurely and then the flowers could die before opening.

Bulbs planted out after flowering are generally hardy enough to survive for many years to come, the exception being the Narcissus " Paperwhite " and it's varieties. These are grown in Israel and need a lot of heat in Summer to initiate flower buds, and are not really hardy enough to survive our Winters.

 

Oh fingers crossed they'll be ok @herbs&flowers

I was going to bung the "paperwhite" outside after flowering.. glad you said that @Anthony Rogers ! Do you dry yours off and store until next winter or bin and buy fresh?

 

Hi Linz,

I usually throw them away, but next year I might try and keep them as we now have a greenhouse so maybe keeping them in there in the higher temperature will help.

PS, if you can manage to keep them their natural flowering time us September/October.

 

Thanks @Anthony Rogers will keep that in mind

 

Would never, ever want to do this. I would just buy some paperwhites from a store and plant them in a pot for inside blooming. I just toss them at the end and move on.