Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service explains how to create the ideal potting mix for bulbs. She calls her recipe "spring bulb jubilee." It's perfect for amaryllis, narcissus or any type of bulb. Start with a sandy loam soil, available at garden centers. Add greensand (a mixture of sand and iron oxide, potassium, phosphorus and trace minerals) or sterilized sand. Add an equal portion of peat moss to the mix. Don't use commercial bulb fertilizers on forced bulbs. Choose a pot twice as deep as the bulbs are tall. Place some pot shards or a piece of plastic window screen over the drain hole of a pot, and fill the pot halfway with the potting mix. It isn't very attractive, but it's fast-draining, and its light texture is easy for tender new roots to push through. Plant the bulbs, and cover with soil mix. Cover the surface of the soil with stones to keep rodents out of the pots. Water the pots and put them in a cool, dark place until roots are showing from the drain hole. This soil mix dries out quickly, so water as needed. Featured plants provided by Wolf River Valley Farms
RESOURCES :
For supplies from Bemis Manufacturing
Bemis Manufacturing
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
U.S.
Phone: 920-467-4621
Fax: 920-467-8573
Website: www.corp@bemismfg.com
For supplies from the Gardener's Supply Co.
Gardener's Supply Company
Burlington, VT 05401-2850
Fax: 800-551-6712 -or- 80
Email: info@gardeners.com
Website: www.gardeners.com
For plants from Wolf River Valley Farms
Wolf River Valley Farms
Pall Mall, TN 38577
Fax: 1-931-879-5479
Email: pwpg@twlakes.net
Website: www.wolfriver.net
For bulbs from Brent and Becky's Bulbs
Brent and Becky's Bulbs
Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: 804-693-3966
Fax: 804-693-9436
Website: http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com
For bulbs from the Van Bourgondien Brothers
Van Bourgondien Brothers
Babylon, NY 11702-9004
Phone: 516-669-3500
Fax: 516-669-1228
Email: blooms@dutchbulbs.com
Website: http:www.dutchbulbs.com
For bulbs from Dutch Gardens
Dutch Gardens
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Email: info@dutchgardens.com
Website: http://www.dutchgardens.com
GUESTS :
Tammy Algood
UT Agricultural Extension Service
5201 Marchant Drive
Nashville, TN 37211-5201
Phone: 615-834-5162
Fax: 615-832-0043
Email: Talgood1@utk.edu
Website: http://www.utextension.utk.edu
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