Making hyacinths bloom in winter

 

 

 

Their blooms are colourful and fragrant, their roots long and dangly. Weeks before spring flowers start popping up outside, indoor gardeners have been making hyacinth bulbs flower in water alone during the short and gloomy days of January.

The bulbs must be kept in vases in cool and dark conditions, then, at the right moment, brought out into the light and warmth of the house.

Things You'll Need

• Hybrid hyacinth bulb
• Hyacinth jar or small vase

          Glass pebbles

          Aquarium charcoal (optional)

Most items are available at any nursery and some hardware stores

• Aquarium charcoal
• Bleach
Instructions

Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs in Water

• 1
  Purchase a hyacinth jar, which is shaped like an hourglass, at a florist or garden supply store. Select a firm, heavy hyacinth bulb that fits into the top opening of the hyacinth jar without tipping. Set the bulb, large side down, in the hyacinth jar.
  If you cannot find a hyacinth jar, use a small vase or glass bowl that accommodates the bulb without too much excess space around the sides. Fill the bottom of the vase or bowl with 3 inches of glass pebbles, set the bulb, large side down, on the pebbles and add more glass pebbles to weigh down the bulb.
• 2
  Fill the hyacinth jar with water to just below the bottom of the bulb. If using a regular vase or bowl, add water to the bottom of the bulb. If the water touches the bulb, it can cause rot. Add a tablespoon of aquarium charcoal to the water. This will help keep the water fresh. If the water gets green or cloudy, pour it out gently and add fresh water, with more charcoal and a few drops of household bleach.

• 3
• Place the "planted" hyacinth bulb in a dark location with a temperature of about 40 degrees. This can be an unheated garage, basement or refrigerator. The roots will start to develop and the bulb will be ready for the next step in three to four weeks. The roots have developed enough to move the bulb into sunlight when they are about 6 inches long and full, filling up a good portion of the bottom of the jar
• 4
• Move the hyacinth bulb in the jar to a warm location with indirect sunlight. Green shoots will appear, followed by hyacinth blooms in about 6 weeks. Moving the hyacinth to a cool location at night will maintain the bloom for longer.