The bulbs would need to be kept cold for at least 6 weeks. Many people put bulbs in their refrigerator to prepare them. Putting them outside would not work as it would get too cold and your planters would freeze.

The seeds should be started indoors, under lights (you might get enough light from your windows, though doubtful. Best to buy plants in Springtime to plant in your planters unless you think you have the space and light to start seed indoors.

Try visiting this forum:

Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing from Seed

Thanks for your reply, Jane.

I'll go check out the growing from seed forum as you suggested.

I thought the bulbs I have were meant to survive the extreme winter hereabouts, but I guess that doe not apply to sowing in containers. I'll stick them in the fridge like you said before planting them.

I'd still like to know what I should be looking for when purchasing a good potting mix.

The article at the thread linked below is a great starting point when thinking about soils for container plants.

First, welcome to GW, and welcome to the wonderful world of gardening! Gardening is so multi-faceted that learning all it's aspects and gaining a measure of success can be rather daunting. But if you have a little patience, and you stick with the facts, you'll do just fine. We're all here to learn, or to help others learn, so sit back and relax, and get ready to do some fascinating reading!

If I could learn, or impress upon new gardeners, the two most important facts about growing, they would be:

1. There's no such thing as a green thumb... it's all knowledge, combined with experience. So be patient, and learn the basic facts first. Fallacy abounds in gardening, but put quite simply, it's what you know/learn that will net you the most success.

2. There are huge differences between growing in the ground, and growing in containers. What works for one will not successfully work for the other.

And I'll add a third for good measure... above all, have fun and enjoy the beauty and relaxation this hobby provides!

Now, on to learning... I've been gardening for literally decades, and the linked article below is some of the best, most simplified, scientific information I've ever had the joy of coming across. It's author, tapla, (or Al, as we call him) is our resident gardening guru. He has a wonderful knack for taking plant growing science and breaking it down into easy to grasp factual information. It's a good place to start when your interest is growing anything in a pot/container.

Happy reading... and if you have questions, we're all here to share and help, so don't be shy... ask anything. And once again, welcome! You're about to embark upon a fabulously enjoyable journey... glad to have you along for the ride! :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils - Water Movement and Retention XI

Well said, Jodi - though not because of the compliments, at all. I just agree with what you offered.

TG - bulbs are about the easiest undertaking I can think of. A soil that drains well is best, as is usual with bulbs, but practically any brand name bagged soil will work if you're careful not to over-water. Bulbs do not like to be wet. They also do not like to be planted so they are touching each other or the pot sides/bottom.

A layer of soil in the bottom of the pot, then the largest bulbs - root side down. Another layer of soil, then the next largest bulbs, until the pot is full or you're out of bulbs. ;-) Fertilize lightly with a balanced granular fertilizer like 12-12-12 (mixed thoroughly into the soil) and put the containers on the garage floor. Toss snow on the containers from time to time, sufficient to keep the soil just damp, never wet.

Follow that procedure and you'll have beautiful bulbs when the soil warms in the spring, OR, any time you want after the bulbs are stratified (had enough cold exposure - required). Bringing them indoors any time after mid-Jan should soon produce your own creation of beautiful blooms. If you DO 'force' the bulbs in this manner, moving them to a cool room or back into the garage when you're not enjoying them will prolong the length of the show considerably.

Good luck - WELCOME!

Al

Torontogirl, you stated you lived in an apartment with only a balcony. Unless your balcony is enclosed, best to put the bulbs in the refrigerator. Here's a link to the bulb forum, you might ask there.

There are folks who buy those cheap, dorm type, mini-refrigerators and fill them with bulbs. People do that in warmer climates to force them.

Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Bulb Forum

Everyone, thank you for the warm welcome!

Jodi - Thank you for the link. It was very informative. A great deal more information than I was looking for right this minute, but it will definitely help me with future garden projects. I've bookmarked the link for when I want to attempt making a potting mix from a recipe. It is pre-bagged mixes for now.

Al - Thanks for letting me now that just about any type of pre-bagged potting mix would work. But how would I know which soil drains best?

Jane - No, my balcony is not enclosed. So, do you mean I shouldn't bother with the soil just now? Stick the bulbs in the fridge as they were in the package for the recommended number of weeks and then plant, is that what you mean? (I actually do have the kind of fridge you are talking about. It's called a bar fridge.) Once I have chilled the bulbs sufficiently, in what time of the year am I actually putting my planters out on the balcony? (Off to check out bulb forum... )

Check the bulb forum. I always used my garage, but I know people put the bulbs in pots and put them in the fridge. They need to be in soil to form roots while chilling. You could do some pretty pots of bulbs and they could bloom indoors.

You can keep it easy and have fun.

Most forced bulbs will not bloom again so your best bet would to use some shallow pots, any type will work as long as they have drainage holes. They don't even have to be flower pots. You could even plant in gravel in a clear bowl or vase. This way you can see if you need to water.

Put in some bagged soil (any type) or gravel and stick the bulbs close together (I always pack them in tight). Put the whole thing in the refrigerator. Best to keep them dark so put something, like newspaper over the top unless your frige doesn't have a light...then you don't need to worry.

Go to the bulb forum. Its fun and you can have some pretty, flowering bulbs in a few months. It's been years since I did this, but I used daffodils, tulips and narcissus.

I planted them in pea gravel or colored, glass stones in clear containers. like salad bowls or punch bowls. I also planted bunches in large, clay pots with any type of bagged soil.

Made a beautiful display for the holidays. You can time your blooms. The people on the bulb forum can give you more info.

Have fun,
Jane

I use refrigeration quite a bit for my Hippeastrum bulbs, so I offer these tips:

Do yourself a huge favor before refrigerating any bulbs... check the temperature of your unit, and the consistency of temperature. You don't want the cold to reach freezing, and you don't want a wild amount of fluctuation.

Also, be sure to keep fruit out of that unit if you're placing bulbs inside, apples especially... and it helps to keep the bulbs away from the walls and bottom of crisper drawers or shelves, or where ever you choose to keep them... a shoebox helps.

I wouldn't worry about light so much... it goes off when you close the door.

With bulbs such as crocus, muscari, or tulips, etc... you can pot them up first and then refrigerate for their dormancy. Certain bulbs require certain amounts of cold... I have a book that lists the amount of time needed for each type, but I'm sure a quick Google will net the same information.

Bulbs can dry out in refrigerators, too... so I usually take them out of plastic bags, wrap in newspaper, then place in a shoe box with a lid... or, I just pot them up. I remember to check on them a couple of times through the dormancy, as well.

Jodik, you silly girl,don't the BULBS still give off light?!" It would probably get at least a smile from all but one. hahahah

I only had a second to say hello, but will be back..

HUG to you Jodi!

Mike

Hey everyone. Thanks again for the feedback. I've planted my bulbs and will a couple of my seeds so that I have seedlings in time for spring.

Jane - Got it. I will definitely put the bulbs in soil and then in the fridge. I'll make sure the pots have good drainage holes. Just to experiment, I'll put a couple of bulbs in gravel in a clear glass bowl and hope for the best...

Jodi - I checked the consistency in temperature readings in my fridge as you advised. Pretty consistent temperatures and no fear of frozen bulbs! I'll make sure to put all fruits in my larger fridge. The bar fridge will be where I will put my bulbs. I'll check the bulbs bi-weekly to ensure their good health.

Mike - You made me smile. I'd say flower bulbs have a radiance of their own that is not quite comparable to electric light bulbs.

Excellent, toronto_girl! Sounds like you're in business.

If you decide to pot up the bulbs before refrigeration, they'll let you know when they're ready to come out... they'll often begin to poke their heads out of the soil. You'll see a bit of growth. There is a general length of dormancy for each bulb type, and I know you can locate that information with a quick Google. Muscari require a certain amount of weeks, hyacinth require a certain amount of weeks, and so on...

And, there's a reason you don't want to mix fruits and dormant bulbs... apples, most notably, give off a gas that will cause the failure of bulbs to bloom. But it's wise to simply separate the two things, fruits and bulbs. Many people will hang a note on their "bulb fridge" that says: No Fruits!

Good luck with your endeavor! Please come back and share your results! We'd love to see! :-)