Growing bulbs in jars!

stormbreaker

Has anyone tried this? Any tips or recommendation? I'm thinking as table centres at a wedding in May next year! Do I have time for a trial run? I've not told the bride so thankfully not relying on me for anything. I have been collecting jars for her, at her request but her plans are to fill them with cut flowers but I suspect this could be expensive, rather than cost saving.

I would like to do it just for me at some point too

Debbie_Savard

Too tricky to get them into bloom at a set time, most bulbs grown this way are prepared bulbs for forcing into bloom around Xmas like hyacinths or amaryllis.

If you wanted to chance it, plant loads of tulips bulbs in Oct/Nov and hope they'll be OK as cut flowers in May.

stormbreaker

Thanks for the reply. I have had a nosey and it is suggested that they are chilled in a fridge for several weeks depending on the bulb. I was going to start a few months ago but could get bulbs!

I know it's not going to be easy and that's why I won't be promising the bride!

I've also seem ivy grown in jars, this might be easier to add a little green.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Whatever you choose, it'll need excellent drainage. I'd think about using white or natural, light gravel, about two inches deep, at the bottom of the jars before adding compost - that way you won't infringe upon the Bride's colour scheme - you'll get the layered effect that's so popular with Pinterest fans (myself included).

Mojisola

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Whatever you choose, it'll need excellent drainage.

No drainage needed. When we were kids we always used to grow a few hyacinths in special bulb vases - just needed the bulb and water.

carlislelass

Mojisola wrote: »

No drainage needed. When we were kids we always used to grow a few hyacinths in special bulb vases - just needed the bulb and water.

Can remember doing this at school

madjackslam

I agree with Debbie. You've more chance of success growing cut flowers for the jars, and cut flowers that are actually in flower at that time of year. So tulips are an excellent suggestion. If you have some ground spare (sacrifice your veg patch?) plant up a load of tulips. You can get some good selections quite cheaply. Hedge your bets and go for a mix of early and late varieties.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Mojisola wrote: »

No drainage needed. When we were kids we always used to grow a few hyacinths in special bulb vases - just needed the bulb and water.

I was going on the assumption that the planting would include compost, as a jar of worms isn't the most romantic (or stable) tablesetting for a wedding .

Seriously though, I didn't get the impression that the OP was buying a mass of specialist vases to keep the bulbs out of the way of moisture and the roots coiling round the vases when saying 'bulbs in jars' - it's not very Pinterest, whereas a layer effect in jam or - how about this? - baby food - jars would be - which means there's no way to keep the bulbs from rotting if just sitting in water or the compost is accidentally overwatered.

PasturesNew

Too risky ... you'd effectively be hijacking the Bride's big dream day with something you've not done before, can't control, etc etc.

Just collect the jars for her - she might have access to free/cheap cut flowers of her choosing, to her theme/colour scheme closer to the day.

Rule 1: Never run the risk of getting in between a Bride and ANY of her ideas/plans. It's just "rude", rarely thoughtful or useful

stormbreaker

The jars I have been saving are all sizes but mostly the dowe edberts large coffee jars as they won't take any decorating!

PasturesNew wrote: »

Rule 1: Never run the risk of getting in between a Bride and ANY of her ideas/plans. It's just "rude", rarely thoughtful or useful

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I had no intentions of telling her unless they were going to work. Thus saving her a few pennies.

I think I will go with growing a number of tulips and again if they are going to be good, I'll let her know then and not before.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it is much appreciated