How long does it usually take to force Narcissus Ziva bulbs to bloom? I started my first attempt last 19 Nov 2011. Although leaves have come out, it is really taking its sweet time to start even a flower stalk. The Amaryllis bulbs I have started at the same time has bloomed and is finishing off already.
On 19Nov2011 and forward:






Have decided to move her nearer the window, and here is how she looks like now, at least a marked improvement:

I think it was a little over a month when my zivas bloomed. What I did was stick the pot in a cool dark place for 2 weeks as per Brent and Becky''s advice on their site. Then I put it in a sunny window and in 2 weeks I saw the first blossom.

This is how they look like when I took them out of the dark.

Thanks Lily! Wow, those are really nice growth! Maybe I just got 3 duds out of 4 ...right now, only one bulb has yielded her flower pod, has not opened yet, but definitely ready to bloom soon.

I have to add that I bought Narcissus Ziva bulbs at half price earlier this month. There was some growth out of the bulbs when I placed them on the rocks with Hyacinthoides Hispanica the second week of January. I refrigerated them for 2 weeks, pulled the first set out this past Thursday, and they rooted and have grown at least 4-6 in since then. Here's the first container. There were no roots when I took them out of the fridge. This set has put up six bloom stalks since Thursday.

The three taller containers were taken out of the fridge on Saturday. Here's the root growth that has occurred since then within 48 hrs.

Thanks for the photos Cem! I will certainly try and give these bulbs a little cool treatment next time...live and learn as always

So my next question, after the bulbs bloom and expires, do you just toss them out and buy a new one or do you try to make it bloom next time?

I have some in pots from last year that have put out lots of leaves, but no bloom stalks yet. They've been outside since last spring. The hyacinths in the same pots are blooming, but not the narcissus yet. My current info gotten with these bulbs say, "Paperwhite bulbs that have been forced, may be forced again the following year or transplanted into the garden. The flowers, however may be smaller with fewer blooms." This is the info from Vanderschoot a division of Garden State Bulb Co. Hope that helps. I'm a keeper, not a tosser, so I'll keep these bulbs once they're done blooming.

tarev, could you still give your bulbs some cool treatment now?

I was thinking about that cool treatment. The shoots of the 3 other bulbs though short are very green, while the other bulb is progressing nicely with a double shoot. Maybe I will just see how it goes, but definitely next year I will provide that cool treatment before I put it in near the windows.

Excellent. Best of luck with your blooms

Finally! The Paperwhites has started to bloom! A fine way to start the morning!

Amen, and the fragrance is wonderful. Glad you finally have some blooms.

Very nice blooms you got there Cem! I hope my remaining bulbs will follow suit and bloom..in the meantime yahoo!

Just got to post some more photos..after the long wait...relishing each bloom as they come:

Very pretty tarev. I've put the rest of my vases on the back deck. Warm sunny days and cool night have the rest of the bulbs growing in leaps and bounds.

Check this out:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/st...

Thanks for the link, I have read similar write-ups, maybe I will try that next year I just want all these bulbs to bloom and grow!

Okay, I'm almost ashamed to post my photo of paperwhite ziva. It was always too warm to really even think of when we lived in zone 10 & I couldn't stand the thought that they would die eventually because planting them in the garden down there was a death sentence. Now that we live where that is not the case I got the kit this year. Having no experience; I followed the directions on the box. I potted them 11/19, put them in the dark, ventilated closet for 2 weeks. I looked at them & decided they needed another week in there so back in they went. Nothing really seemed to be happening with them in the house (not enough light) so I put them outside only bringing them in overnight when we had frost or freeze temps. I really wonder if they are ever going to bloom this year. I took this photo today. Bloom or not; I will plant them into the ground when we get settled in our new house.

Hi Ann, that was the same condition my bulbs was in! I started also on 19Nov and it really took forever! But I finally got one blooming...who knows maybe your bulbs are just really late bloomers like mine!

Interesting article ge.

flaflwrgrl, try cooling them in the fridge for 2 weeks. I did it, they had no growth while being cooled, but once removed from the fridge, roots formed within 24-48 hrs and they bloomed within a week. Best of luck with you bulbs.

I think next time I will try the glass container, rocks & water method as well as cooling them in the fridge first.

Tarev, yes, mine are late bloomers but not just like yours or they would be blooming now, like yours.