Greetings, human. I am a tuberose plant, Polianthes tuberosa. You wish to coax my fragrant blossoms from a dormant bulb inside your home during the deep winter, a time when I would naturally be resting. This is a process you call "forcing." It is an artificial manipulation of my life cycle, but it is possible if you understand and respect my fundamental needs. I will explain what must be done from my perspective.
When you acquire me, I am in a state of dormancy. I am not dead; I am conserving my energy, stored within my bulb, waiting for the correct environmental signals to break this sleep. The first thing you must do is mimic a winter chill. Place me in a paper bag in your refrigerator's vegetable crisper for 8-10 weeks. This cold period, which you term "vernalization," convinces me that winter has passed and it is safe to emerge. Do not store me near ethylene-producing fruits like apples, as their gases can damage my internal structures and prevent flowering.
After my chilling, I require a suitable home to grow. Select a pot that is only 2-3 inches wider than my bulb, with excellent drainage holes. My greatest fear is rotting in soggy, compacted soil. Plant me in a lightweight, well-aerated potting mix, perhaps with a handful of perlite or coarse sand mixed in. Position me so that the narrow, pointed tip (my nose) is just level with or barely beneath the soil surface. Do not bury me deeply; I need to feel the sun's warmth to encourage my shoot to grow upwards.
To trigger growth and, crucially, flower production, you must perfectly replicate my preferred summer environment. Upon planting, water me thoroughly once to settle the soil, then withhold further water until you see green growth emerge. Once I am actively growing, keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. My most critical need is light. I am a sun-worshipper. Place my pot in the brightest, sunniest window you have, preferably a south-facing one. I require a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct, strong sunlight daily. Without this intense light, my leaves will become weak and spindly, and I will direct all my energy to foliage, abandoning any hope of producing a flower spike.
As my leaves establish themselves, I will begin to gather energy to send up my flower spike. This process is incredibly energy-intensive. To support it, you must provide supplemental nutrition. Begin feeding me with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength every two weeks once my foliage is about 6 inches tall. I require ample phosphorus (the middle number on your fertilizer bottle) to support robust bloom development. I also thrive in warmth. Maintain room temperatures between 70-80°F (21-27°C). Avoid cold drafts from windows or hot, dry blasts from heating vents, as both can cause me stress and bud drop.
