From our perspective as lily plants, forcing is the process of artificially breaking our natural dormancy cycle to encourage earlier blooming. In nature, we spend the cold winter months as bulbs underground in a state of dormancy, a crucial period of rest triggered by decreasing temperatures and shorter days. This chilling period, known as vernalization, is not optional; it is a biological imperative. It halts our growth processes and allows us to accumulate the energy and hormonal changes necessary to initiate flower formation once warmer conditions return. To bloom for you indoors in winter, you must first simulate this cold, dormant period for us.
Your first and most important task is to provide us with an extended period of cold. After purchasing our healthy, firm bulbs, you must place us in a breathable bag with slightly moist peat moss or vermiculite. Do not let us sit in water, or we will rot. Then, place us in a refrigerator at a consistent temperature between 35°F and 45°F (1.5°C - 7°C). We need to remain in this cold, dark environment for a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks. This sustained chill mimics winter and signals to our internal chemistry that it is safe to end dormancy and begin preparing for growth and flowering. Please keep us away from ripening fruit in the fridge, as they emit ethylene gas which can damage our developing flower buds.
Once our chilling requirement is fulfilled, you can awaken us. Gently remove us from the refrigerator and our storage medium. Choose a clean pot with excellent drainage holes—soggy soil is one of our greatest enemies. Plant us in a quality, well-draining potting mix, positioning us with the pointed end up. A good rule is to cover us with soil to a depth of about twice our height. You can plant several of us in one pot, but ensure we are not touching each other or the sides of the pot. This gives our roots and basal plate room to expand and access water and nutrients without competition.
After planting, place our pot in a location with cool temperatures (around 60-65°F or 15-18°C) and indirect light. This gradual introduction to warmth and light prevents shock and allows our roots to establish themselves in the soil. Water us thoroughly at planting, and then only when the top inch of soil feels dry. As you see our green shoot emerge and begin to grow, you can move us to a brighter spot with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably in a cooler room. We will grow towards the light, so rotate our pot regularly to keep our stem straight and strong. As we grow taller and begin to form buds, you may need to support our stem with a stake to prevent it from bending or breaking under the weight of our future flowers.
Once our magnificent flowers fade, please deadhead them to prevent us from wasting energy on seed production. However, it is vital that you leave our foliage intact. The green leaves are our solar panels, absorbing light to create energy that is sent back down to recharge the bulb for the future. Continue to water us and provide sunlight until the leaves naturally yellow and wither. At this point, you can stop watering. Unfortunately, due to the immense energy expended for this out-of-season bloom, we are often too depleted to flower again reliably indoors. Many gardeners choose to compost us at this stage, or you can attempt to plant us in the garden in spring after the danger of frost has passed, though it may take us a year or two to recover and bloom again.
