Forcing Bulbs: Hyacinth

I love forcing bulbs to bloom out of season especially in January when the weather can be dark and gloomy, and the fun of Thanksgiving and Christmas has passed. Bulbs are easy to grow outside, and inside with a little knowledge and preparation. Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) are native to southwestern Asia, southern and central Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel.

Unlike paperwhites and amaryllis, these bulbs need some advance preparation. The bulbs must be kept at a cool temperature for about six weeks to trigger the conditions needed for blooming. I typically purchase a bag of bulbs in the fall when they are available in hardware stores or garden shops, and push them to the back of my refrigerator where they remain through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. By January, they are ready to force. If Easter is early enough, you may even be able to time them to bloom for the holiday.

Hyacinths bulbs (Hyacinthus orientalis) – day 23

For this project you'll need:

• Bulbs that have been prepared as described
• Special bulb vases, which are available from a variety of sources 
• (Optional) Shallow bowl or tin 

Tooling up – day 1

To grow:

1. Fill the bulb vases with clear water.
2. Optionally, place the root end of the bulbs in a low pan of water for about 20 minutes. Typically the roots are dry, so this helps "wake them up".
3. Place a bulb in each vase with the pointed end up and the root end down and submerged in water.
4. Place in a sunny or bright location, such as a kitchen window sill.
5. Watch and enjoy as the bulbs take root, and the stems and flowers emerge. Add water as needed.

Roots appear – day 3

Stems and buds appear – day 14 (and brighten a gloomy day)

Aftercare: 

When the flowers are spent, remove them from the bulbs, and move the vases to a location where the plants can finish their life cycle. Remove the bulbs from the vases, and let dry. Plant the bulbs outdoors or in containers, 4-8" deep, 6" apart.

Instructions are a combination of info from Van Zyverden, Inc. literature, and personal comments.
www.vanzyverden.com (product of Israel)
www.digdropdone.com