Anemones, with the common name “windflower,” are some of the most colorful flowers in the garden.

Some, with tubers planted in the fall, bloom early in the spring. Others are fall-blooming and should be planted in the spring. All are prolific bloomers, with daisy-shaped flowers in a wide variety of colors.

While shopping in a chain store shortly after Thanksgiving, we spotted a complete indoor grow kit, including three terracotta pots, three bulbs (one each of red, white and blue) and the growing medium for only $5.99. We have forced tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses in the past, and I have written about it, but we have never tried anemones. For $5.99, we figured it was worth a shot.

The instructions say to soak the bulbs in cold water for 12 hours, then put the cocopeat disk in a separate container along with a half cup of water. Plant the bulbs in the cocopeat mixture in the pots, and store the pot for four weeks at 36 to 39 degrees. We put them in a plastic bag in the back of the refrigerator.

After four weeks, bring them out to a warm, bright spot, between 54 and 59 degrees. Keep the planting medium moist, watering more frequently with liquid fertilizer once the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall.

The instructions don’t say how long it should take until the anemones bloom, but I am hoping they come before the early-season anemones bloom in the garden.

We plant forced tulips and daffodils outside after the ground thaws and have had good luck. We will try it with the anemones, too, but the instructions don’t mention that. If you can’t find an anemone kit in your big box store, try an amaryllis or some paperwhites. The hope of an off-season bloom can ease the dark days of a Maine winter.


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