Indoor flowering bulb guide
If you want the beauty and scent of flower bulbs in your home, then indoor bulbs are the way to go. There are two types of bulbs that can be grown indoors: bulbs that require chilling, and bulbs that do not.
Indoor bulbs that do not require chilling
Flowering bulbs that are native to warmer climates are very easy to grow indoors because they do not require chilling. These bulbs are built to withstand warmer temperatures, and some are fairly drought-tolerant.
The Amaryllis indoor bulb is a perfect example of this type of indoor bulb. Originally from South Africa, Amaryllis produces stunning flowers that only require a small amount of maintenance. Simply place them in a soil-filled container with a third of the bulb above the soil line, and move the container to a position where it can receive bright, indirect sunlight. Water lightly until your bulb begins to grow! If you have a red Amaryllis it’s the perfect indoor flowering bulb for Christmas!
Narcissus papyraceus, or Paperwhite Narcissus, is also a common indoor bulb that doesn’t need chilling. These can be planted in soil, but many gardeners also grow them in shallow bowls of water with stones to keep the bulbs in place.
Indoor bulbs that require chilling
Certain indoor bulbs need a chilling period before they can flower, in order to mimic the conditions that they would experience if planted outdoors. After this chilling period, they can be moved to a warmer position, such as a sunny, cool windowsill.
There are several plants that can successfully bloom using this technique, but one of the easiest is the Hyacinth. These can be planted in a container and kept in a cool, dark place for around 8 weeks until the flower buds show, then moved to a warm, light position where they’ll flower.
For more established flowers and plants in your home, browse our house plants and cut flower collections.
