Indoor Garden
- Start forcing spring bulbs of Hyacinths tulips and daffodils, which are most commonly forced. But other spring bulbs like crocus can be forced as well. Pot up the bulbs in good potting soil and keep them cool for 14-15 weeks to break dormancy. This can be done in a ziplock bag in a refrigerator or in a trench dug outdoors and covered with leaves or other clean mulch and dug up and brought inside for forcing in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill.
- Plant paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis in intervals for the holidays. These bulbs do not require a chilling to break dormancy although Amaryllis should be allowed to rest by withholding water (drought induced dormancy) for at least a month between flowering periods.
- Start Poinsettia regimen of 15 hours uninterrupted darkness (and 9 hours bright indirect light) for at least five weeks to induce blooming by December. Bring non-hardy Fuchsia into protected areas now. You can also root cuttings now.
- Get those indoor plants back inside before the frost. Hopefully you have been disinfesting them as recommended in last months calendar so they won’t bring problems indoors.
- Slow down fertilization of indoor plants as sunlight levels drop.
- Monitor soil moisture as heat comes on in the house. Also mist plants that enjoy humidity as humidity will drop when the heat comes on.