This layering thing is new for me. I have never even tried it outdoors in my flower beds. I guess I worried about the bulbs crowding each other out. After my big indoor pot flowers, I will separate the different kinds of bulbs and plant them out in the garden. Don't want to waste all that money spent on bulbs. The forced tulips are expendable, but the other species should carry on fine once they have a chance to bulk up again. I will try to take some pics at different stages, but no promises. There are photos in Art's book showing this same thing.

its NBD ... though knowing where you are.. might help define such.. the flowers are not hardened off to sunlight nor temps.. they can not go out now .... bulbs are planted in fall ... it was always a family tradition to get mom flowers for easter and mother days.. THEY ALL WENT IN THE GARDEN ... we enjoyed the flowers indoors ... and when they started looking ratty.. about the time they go dormant in late spring.. dad would chuck the pots outside.. on the north side of the house.. let them dry.. and harvest them like onions.. and hang them in the garage until october planting time ... or once dormant.. just stick them in the ground.. and hope for the best ... other times.. leaving them in the garage for a decade or two.. lol ... the trick is.. to get rid of that potting media.. as its usually too spongy to 'mix' with garden soil ... and speaking of which ... bulbs dont like to be sodden.. and some media is easily over-watered.. so as flowers decline.. back off on water ... once planted.. who knows what the success rate is/was,... we never kept that close a track on them.. but the yard had quite a few scattered around.. do get rid of the foil.. and it is defeating the drainage of the pot ... what do you have to lose.. at worst.. just stick them int he ground.. when it warms enough.. in my MI... mid may???? ken

Every single hyacinth in my garden started life as a forced winter bloomer in water. They last for years but they never produce such big full flowers as in their first year. This doesn't bother me as I prefer the looser more natural flowers in an outdoor setting. As soon as the flower fades Indoors I dig a hole and plant the bulb with its green leaves. I'm in the process of setting out this year's hyacinths as they fade inside.

I don't know why I don't force hyacinths. I LOVE them, although surprising haven't had them in my garden in years. I think one or two around the house in late winter would be lovely. Love the pink Fondant. Funny, aside from a few paperwhites and an amaryllis, I haven't done any forcing in years, although several times I have done a workshop about forcing bulbs for my local library... The years I did a program I did make a pot of tulips for myself. Mine too lived in the garage until time to come in the house. :) Dee