STARTING FROM SEED
Whether you are a novice or master gardener, growing plants from seeds is a rewarding experience. Plant your BloemBox seeds or bulbs to grow a memorable garden of bloom. Although each BloemBox contains complete planting instructions, here are a few extra planting tips to ensure the best results.

PREPARING THE SOIL
Nutrient-rich soil with a loose, airy texture is the key to a healthy, abundant garden. Before planting a garden bed, turn soil to a depth of 12” and blend in organic amendments, compost or well-aged manure and rake smooth. Garden soils contain an abundance of dormant weed seeds that are brought to the surface when turning the soil. Evenly moisten the soil for about 10 days and allow the weed seeds to sprout. When the weeds are about 2” tall, gently hoe them out and rake soil smooth. If planting a large patio container, check for proper drainage and fill with an organic potting soil that contains sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, pumice and coco fiber. Your garden is ready to plant.

AN EASY WAY TO GROW BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
BloemBox seed products contain seeds that are grown in the Netherlands and tested by a registered seed laboratory in the United States. BloemBox Tiny Tins are filled with easy-to-grow loose seeds. The decorative window-top tin is a perfect seed container for all seed types particularly those that are too large to fit inside the plantable tissue paper.

BloemBox Originals, Gardens, Minis and Seed Mat Gardens contain tissue paper ribbons or seed mats that make planting easy. The premium, small seeds are sandwiched between biodegradable tissue paper that holds them in place. The plantable tissue paper can be cut-to-size and placed in a large outdoor patio container, raised bed or prepared garden bed. Simply unroll the tissue paper, place it on the soil and cover it with Ό” to ½” potting soil. As the seeds sprout, the tissue paper biodegrades into the soil. Keep the soil evenly moist to germinate the seeds. For vigorous growth and bloom, thin and space seedlings to encourage both air flow around each plant and a healthy root system.

AS YOUR GARDEN GROWS
When seedlings are 2” to 3” tall, cover the surface of the soil with mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth. Water frequently in the early morning and fertilize if needed. Remove spent or fading blossoms to encourage sequential bloom. Allow some or all of the blooms in the Songbird Garden Mix to dry on the stem. The flower heads will produce an abundance of seeds that attract a variety of feathered friends to your garden.

STORING SEEDS
Store unused seeds in a cool, dark, dry place and plant the following year.

FORCING BULBS INTO BLOOM
Like seeds, bulbs are alive but extremely perishable. BloemBox bulb kits are available on a seasonal basis. Bulbs are packed fresh each day in our temperature-controlled bulbhouse and carefully packed into custom bulb shippers. Immediately unpack shippers and place bulb kits in a cool, dry place away from heat and frost. Sometimes with extra humidity, the bulbs and roots develop penicillin mold. This mold is harmless to the bulb. Provide good air circulation around the bulb and carefully brush the mold away and plant as usual.

Each kit is labeled with a removable sticker that says, “plant me!” It is a reminder that inside each lovely BloemBox is a complete kit ready to grow and force into bloom. Each kit contains water-absorbing, nutrient-rich wafers that provide a lightweight, soil-less medium to support and anchor each bulb. A warm room and sufficient root moisture initiates stem growth. Our amaryllis bulbs are grown in the Netherlands and are high quality, top-sized bulbs. These bulbs have a longer shelf-life compared to other amaryllis stock, but sometimes they are slow to initiate growth. Be patient and it will be well-worth the wait! The large-size bulbs usually produce two flowering stems during the bloom season. With proper care, they will bloom every year for many years to come. Paperwhite bulbs will quickly sprout and reveal a green tip. For many weeks, the bulbs hold back further growth and remain healthy until planted. Forced paperwhite bulbs bloom best for only one season.