Does Muscari Bloom Indoors?

Forcing Bulbs

• Muscari, like other spring bulbs such as crocus, narcissus and hyacinth, can be grown indoors through the process of forcing. Bulbs for forcing must undergo the same conditions as do bulbs grown outside, including being subjected to roughly 15 weeks of cold temperatures and darkness until the bulbs have manufactured enough nutrients to sustain the plants. Once the process is over, you can move the bulbs to a bright spot and they will produce foliage and flowers within a few weeks.

Getting Started

• You can force Muscari bulbs for indoor blooming in any type of container you have on hand, as long as it has holes in it to provide proper drainage. The ideal containers are clay or plastic pots, but you can poke holes in the bottom of any container to make it suitable for forcing. Use a potting blend made up of peat moss, soil and perlite or vermiculite combined in roughly equal amounts. Good drainage is key here, and regular potting soil stays too damp, which bulbs dislike. Fill the pot to about 3/4 full with soil and plant the bulbs closely together, ignoring the space requirements for bulbs planted outdoors. Bring a bit more soil in around the edges of the bulbs, but do not cover them completely. They should just be peeking out from the soil.

The Big Chill

• Store the pot containing the Muscari bulbs in the refrigerator or in an unheated basement or garage. Check it from time to time and water if the soil appears dry. You can also chill the pot outside by putting it in a trench and covering it with hay or dried leaves and plastic held down with rocks. Once the cooling period is over, bring the pot inside, water it thoroughly and gradually introduce it to more light and heat by moving it first to a slightly warmer sunnier area before moving it to its warm and sunny permanent spot. Moving the pot from a cold to a hot area too quickly could result in flowers failing to open, and the warmer indoor temperatures limit blooming time, so it's a good idea to start a few pots of bulbs at different times to keep the process going.

Pre and Post-bloom Care

• Flower bulbs should appear on the plant's tiny stalks within 2 to 3 weeks of being placed in a warmer spot. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, being sure that any excess water exits the pot from the drainage holes. Forcing takes a lot out of Muscari bulbs, and the process can happen only once. Once the flowers are spent, you can allow the plant to continue growing until the foliage dies back naturally. Feed the bulbs once or twice during this process with water-soluble houseplant fertilizer according to package directions. Transfer the bulbs to the garden or store them in a cool dark place for later planting outside, but do not try to force them again.