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Hyacinth indoors in a pot
When the weather is cold, you can still enjoying growing indoors. Plant these bulbs inside in autumn and you may enjoy flowers in your home during winter.

Helpful information

Timing: Autumn

Where to do it: Indoors

Garden space: Indoors

  • Planting bulbs can be satisfying and is relatively low cost. It is a good activity for gardeners of every level of experience
  • A light physical task that can help build strength and co-ordination
  • Watching green shoots grow and flowers bloom brings life to your home when it’s harder to get outside

When you think of bulbs, you might first think of plants like tulips. You plant these bulbs outside in autumn ready for garden colour in the spring.

Not all bulbs have to be grown in the garden. There are several varieties that you can enjoy keeping indoors. You can start growing many of these in autumn, giving the welcome sight of flowers in your home over winter.

Hyacinth

A hyacinth bulb grown in a clear jam jar
A hyacinth bulb grown in a clear jam jar

Timing: Plant in September for Christmas flowers

If you want to grow hyacinths indoors, you are best buying special pre-prepared hyacinth bulbs. These are a little bit more expensive than normal hyacinth bulbs. This is because they have been treated to help them flower early.

If you plant your pre-prepared hyacinth bulbs inside in September, they should flower for Christmas. If you plant them later, they will just flower later.

You can also buy regular hyacinth bulbs for growing outside in your garden.

Paperwhites

Paperwhites in bloom
Paperwhites in bloom

Timing: Flowers around 6-8 weeks after planting

Paperwhites are closely related to daffodils. You can see the similarities. They are delicate looking and have a distinctive scent.

In a warm room, they can flower pretty quickly – possibly as soon as six weeks after planting. If you would like flowers before Christmas, try to plant in October.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis in flower in the home
Amaryllis in flower in the home

Timing: Flowers around 7-10 weeks after planting

Amaryllis is brilliant to grow inside. It has large flowers and there are many beautiful varieties and colours.

Placed in a nice, warm room you should enjoy flowers as soon as seven weeks after planting.

Top tip

You could plant amaryllis bulbs every two weeks in October / November. This will give you stunning flowers in your home through the winter.

Miniature iris

Dwarf or miniature iris indoors
Dwarf or miniature iris indoors

These are very pretty little flowers. A little extra thought is needed when growing indoors to help them flower.

After planting, place them somewhere cool for 10-15 weeks. It wants to be below 10 degrees – an unheated garage for example. Once the shoots are long enough, bring them inside to enjoy the flowers.

Top tip

It is sensible to wear gloves when handling bulbs, as some may cause skin irritation.

Bulbs planted in a bowl of compost
Bulbs planted in a bowl of compost

You can have a lot of fun growing bulbs indoors. You could experiment with different ways and see what is most successful

1. In a hyacinth vase

Bulbs to try: prepared hyacinths

The great thing about growing bulbs in a vase is you get to see the roots developing below. It’s a real chance to see nature in action.

Some people buy a special hyacinth vase. You could also use a jam jar if it has a narrow neck. The idea is that the bulb is held in place just above the water as it grows.

Read our guide to growing hyacinths in water for step by step instructions.

2. In a tall vase

Bulbs to try: paperwhites

A little bit like growing in a hyacinth vase, when you grow paperwhites in a clear container you can enjoy seeing the roots develop.

The difference is that the bulb is placed on a surface of pebbles or gravel, instead of just into the water.

Read our guide to growing paperwhite bulbs in a vase for step by step instructions.

3. In a bowl of compost

Bulbs to try: hyacinths, paperwhites, amaryllis, miniature iris

The more traditional way of growing bulbs is in a bowl full of compost.

Generally, when we plant bulbs we place them deep into soil. When growing bulbs so they flower indoors, they are not planted as deeply. Leave the very top of the bulb poking above the surface of the compost.

You can decorate the surface with moss, gravel, glass or decorative stone if you would like to make a nice gift.

Read our guide to growing bulbs in compost indoors for step by step instructions.

Once your bulbs have finished flowering, you could plant the bulbs outside in your garden.

Some, like hyacinths, might not flower very well outside the next year. Paperwhites are also not very likely to survive in very cold weather.

But, you can still give it a go and see what happens!

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