Different vases for different bulbs
Other bulbs can also be forced on water. Most spring flowering bulbs can be forced on water in the winter, provided the vase or glass will give enough support to the developing plant. The advantage of spring-flowering bulbs is that they do not need very much light in winter to flower. The energy necessary for most flowers to come to flower is in the case of these bulbs gathered in the bulbs in the preceding growing season and enables them to come to flower easily. The bulbs are literally filled with energy and in autumn most bulbs already carry inside them the fully-developed plant. Crocuses have successfully been grown on the specially-developed crocus-vases. Best results are with the big flowering white, striped and blue crocuses. The yellow crocus is possible, but only from February.
Various crocus vases from different countries with one hyacinth vase for comparison.
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Right: Maastricht Kristalunie – Holland crocus vases. Left the Maastricht hyacinth vase for comparison reason. Both were designed by Roozendaal in 1939. Because of their size, these crocus vases are no very suitable for crocuses and are better to be used for bigger bulbs like tulips or daffodils.
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Here is another part of my collection. These are 4 different types of crocus vases of Leerdam – Holland. The rounded green ones differ in shape and are quite rare. The Leerdam hyacinth vase is for comparison reason. If you’re interested: my collection is for sale. Please contact me if you would like to buy some vases.
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Tulips can in principle be forced on all kind of glass vases and jars!
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More than hyacinths
Also forcing of tulips on water indoors is quite possible and some models of tulip-vases exist. Professional tulip forcers in Holland produce some 90% of all the tulips for the production of cut-flowers by forcing on water!
Other spring-flowering bulbs that can be forced on water are Narcissus (daffodil), Galanthus (snowdrop), Iris reticulata and other small irises, Muscari (grape-hyacinth), Puschkinia scilloides and Scilla species. Most of these bulbs you will have to give a cold-period of 12 to 14 weeks, before bringing them into the heated part of the house.
Flower bulbs from warmer regions
Bulbs that do not need a cold period are bulbs that originate in warmer regions of the world. Examples are Hippeastrum (Amaryllis), Narcissus tazetta (Paperwhite) and Sternbergia lutea (autumn daffodil). When forcing, give them enough light to prevent plants becoming too tall! For Hippeastrum I developed a special vase, in 1997, to provide constant support to the shrinking bulb, through a special trumpet- shaped cup. When you want to force Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) on water, choose short varieties, remove a part of the roots and all dead roots, wash the bulbs and refresh the water several times!
Also less known flowerbulbs can be forced on water, like Sternbergia lutea (autumn daffodil). I found this Sternbergia growing wild in an olive grove in Liguria, Italy. They bloom in the autumn and look like crocuses, but belong to a completely different family (Amaryllidaceae). The crocus belongs to the iris family (Iridaceae).
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Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) on a Amaryllis vase which I’ve developed. By now, more types of suitable vases have been developed.
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Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) ‘Papillio’
on the Amaryllis vase.
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Like Hippeastrum (Amaryllis), Sprekelia formosissima is also very easy to bloom in water. No prior period of lower temperature is needed either.
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Sternbergia lutea is a member of the Amaryllis family, like Hippeastrum, Nerine, snowdrop, and daffodil, and can easily be brought to bloom in water without a prior cold period.
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A copy of the 1969 sales brochure of the now defunct wholesale company Rimac presenting its crocus vase (model Jolly).
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Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulb forcing on water was always difficult because the bulb with the developing plant easily falls from the vase. In 1999 I developed a special vase with a trumpet shape that gives the possibility to maintain the support to the shrinking bulb.
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unique hyacinth (bulb vases) and handmade oil paintings
The unique collection of hyacinth vases (bulb vases) belonging to Wim Granneman is for sale, as well as his handmade collection oil paintings, inspired by the vibrant flower bulb fields of the Bulb District (Bollenstreek) in Holland. The vase collection includes many more than shown on the website and is available as a whole or in sets, for instance by country of origin. Parts of the vase collection and oil paitings have been exhibited in various museums.
Interested? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.