Anyone forcing forcythia?

3 weeks ago while working in the garden I noticed all the big buds in the ready on the forcythias, and broke a few branches off to bring inside. Today they're in full, glorious bloom! Unfortunately I'm without a digital camera now, so I can't show them off. They're so easy, just keep the water changed. A sight for winter sore eyes!

Hi gemini-sage,
Thanks for the tip with forcythia, I have some in the garden with buds on. I'll cut a few branches and give it a try.

First I will have to look up Forcynthia, lol. You mean it has been cut for 3 weeks and bloomed. That sounds like something I need!! Off to plant files. Thanks Gemini!!

Thanks for the reminder about bringing forsythia inside for a little quick color! Pupil, down here they're called "yellow bells".

Good idea, I'll do the same. Thanks

Everyone has forsythia but me??? Well, I just planted a bare root, prob have to wait until next year. Do they do well in warmer climates? I haven't seen much planted down here.

They need very little cold period to bloom, so I think there's a good chance. Here a few blooms will open during warm spells in fall or winter (I've even seen a few blooms in fall while there was still foliage on them). I wonder if it will be a winter bloomer for you ?

I went outside to inspect my forsythia today and it has loads of buds on it ,some have opened slightly.

Neal, take a look at my poor forsythia. I wonder if i should have taken it back to Lowes where i bought it. Looks kind of silly growing off to one side. Is there a way to encourage growth all around?

Terri, beautiful!

How about forcing flowering quince? I just found some. . . a little small to do anything with, but beautiful regardless.

I'm not being funny Karma, are you sure that is Forsythia? Mine has the flowers first then the leaves!
Your Quince is gorgeous! I don't know about forcing it, no idea!

Karma, if you paid full price for it, I think I'd take it back. But if it was one of those reduced plants, I'd cut it off near the base where the bend is and it should come back with more canes and a prettier shape.

Flowering quince works well for vase forcing too, just takes a bit longer for the blooms to open. They lend themselves nicely to Oriental themed designs.

Thanks Neal, I bought it full priced, but bareroot, therefore much cheaper ($5) and could not tell until I ripped up the plastic bag. I threw out the plastic and with gas prices these days, I think I will keep it and follow your advice. Thank you. What other cut flowers do you have in your garden?

I agree with using quince in oriental themed designs. They sell them as a bunch at the asian markets during the Chinese New Year. I can't wait until mine takes off and gives me longer branches to play with.

This year I'm going nuts with cut flowers! I have seed ordered for about a dozen different zinnia varieties, cosmos, larkspur, shirley poppies, snapdragons, and some other stuff I can't remember off the bat. I have wintersown some crested celosia and bells of Ireland that I have great hopes for too. And then there are the lilies- lets just say I've gone lily crazy, LOL. I've also wintersown some Shasta daisies and Painted daisies. I have no experience with painted daisies and have never seen them grown around here either- hope that just means they're not very popular and not that they just won't grow here.

That reminds me. . .I have celosia seeds to sow. I have not gotten into lilies yet. Do you grow them from seeds or bulbs? Painted daisies. . .never heard of them. Will look them up. Take a look at some of my seedlings Neal. I'm so proud of my little babies. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/779486/

I've always grown lilies from bulbs, but have been trying a few from seed the last couple of years and it will be a while before I see results.

Here are some Painted Daisy pics:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/89934/

Wow, those daisies are so bright and vivid. Very nice.

Gemini just ran a coop for Lilies. I can only imagine what his garden is going to look like. I think I may have seen him on other Lily coops as well (smile). I would know because I was there as well. What is this addiction called gardening and how do you cure it?

May Princess Tammy never cure her addiction to gardening!

Hehehehe...I think this year I may have actually satiated my ravenous want for lilies after participating in 3 co ops besides my own. I haven't dared count the bulbs I'm gonna have to plant, although I know its over 200, and thats enough to bring on an anxiety attack, LOL!

Hanging head in shame
I am really scared to count mine. When 4paws started her glad, lily coop, I just found out my darling husband was leaving. What do I do when I am feeling sorry for myself, SHOP FOR PLANTS! I think I edited and added about 5 times and then yours came along, not to mention the ones from the fall and......I need help!!

Smiles,
Traci

Edit for above.

May Princess Tammy never need help.

All these years and I never knew I could force my forsythia - and as for the quince, I am going to work on that one as well.
Now if there was just a way to force my Wisteria??????????
Candee

Candee. . .a thread on Wisteria. Hope it could help you "force" your wisteria into blooming. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/709664/

Neal, lilies will be my next thing. Will wait for them to go on sale at Lowes. . .no doubt they will. When do the bulbs need to be planted and how long before they bloom?

Choose carefully when buying lily bulbs from box stores, they've often dried out while sitting on the shelves in the warm store. Unlike many bulbs like tulips and daffodils that have a papery husk that protects the bulb from moisture loss, lilies are prone to drying. Differing also from most bulbs, lilies never go completely dormant, so they need to be planted ASAP when you get them. If you luck into getting them when they first go on the shelves, you can probably find some healthy looking ones. If you wait till they've gone on sale, they've often started growing in the bags. If they're cheap enough, it still may be worth picking them up. They would be stunted at best the first year, but in a year or two usually recover.

Quality lily bulbs will bloom the first year, and reach full height the 2nd year. They're sold in fall and spring, with the best selection available in spring. The bulbs are harvested so late in fall that the fall planting season is often over in northern areas when they're being shipped, so most of the bulbs are kept in cold storage till spring (to trick them into "thinking" they've had a winter).

And speaking of Lowes sales, I have picked up potted lilies really cheap after the blooms have faded; still have to wait a year to see blooms again, but I got pots of 3 Asiatics for a buck a piece!

Oh, by the way, I saw that another lily co op has just opened :-)

Gemini, I just placed my order. I must be stopped. Someone put a strait jacket on me, but please make sure it has lovely lilies sown on it.

I've had to sit on my hands, I should be well lilied, LOL. Must turn my attention to roses now!

Please do roses for me as I have never had any success with them. I'll handle the lilies for you if you like, I always have them coming out my "wazoo" and have had them get 8+' tall.

Thanks so much for the info. That's really good to know. . .glad I passed up on the clearance ones at Walmart last year. Did you say roses? I just started collecting last summer. My favorite are the david austin roses. Purchased four last fall and they are doing well. Will post pics when I get home.

Edit to add: Candee, wow. .. those lilies are giagantic

This message was edited Feb 26, 2008 11:59 AM

Gemini,
Quick question. Is there any way to store lilies? I will be moving in about 2 months (maybe) and would rather store them than plant and redig. Any suggestions on this? I could pot them up, but would rather find an easier way.

Much obliged,
Traci

Traci, I've often had to store them for a while waiting for weather to cooperate. I store them in plastic bags that have some air holes with a generous amount of very slightly damp peat moss, and hold them in the fridg. Its important to make sure no fruit (including tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.) in there with the bulbs. Fruits release ethylene which stimulates the bulbs to sprout. Its also important to make sure they don't freeze; I've had some fridges that would freeze things sitting in the back. I like to check them every few days to watch for any signs of sprouting, mold, rot, or over-drying.

You can go ahead and store them, then if you do see signs of sprouting pot them up. If you pot them, be sure to use deep pots. Unlike spring bulbs that are planted shallowly when potted, lilies produce stem roots above the bulb, so you'll want a few inches of soil covering the bulbs.

haighr, those lilies are awesome! I love it when they're right up to nose level.

Thanks so much, Neal!! This is very helpful. I have a mini fridge I can store in. I will definitely have to watch the temp. as it has frozen before.

This helps tremendously!

Your a doll,
Traci

I have never seen a lily that looks so much like a human, Candee!

LOL, it must be something in the clone!

You should patent it, Candee! You could make millions! I want one for my yard.