How to plant hyacinths for forcing at home, selection and storage rules for bulbs

Forcing hyacinths at home will allow you to please your loved ones with bright lush flowers for the spring holidays. To do this, it is important to follow the forcing process and choose the right planting material. The plant has many varieties; it is important to choose the right variety for growing at home.

Forcing hyacinths at home

To grow hyacinths at home, you need to choose the right time and plant variety. It is also required to comply with all growing conditions and rules. If you carry out all the steps correctly, the plant will definitely delight you with its lush flowers.

Choosing bulbs

The selection of bulbs is carried out in the summer. The strongest flowering plants are dug up two weeks earlier. For planting at home, select specimens with a diameter of at least 5 centimeters. This is how they choose planting material from their own plot.

Hyacinths can also be purchased at flower shops. They are sold all year round. Choose strong, large bulbs. They must be intact, without cracks, mechanical damage, uncharacteristic stains and rot.

For early forcing, the following varieties are chosen:

• Amsterdam;
• Anna Marie;
• Bismarck;
• Ostara;
• Myosotis.

Their flowering can be stimulated by the end of December.

By mid-February the following varieties will bloom:

• Amethyst;
• Blue Jacket;
• Lady Derby;
• Tubergens Scarlet;
• Carnegie.

To get blooming hyacinths by the beginning of March, choose the following varieties:

• Woodstock;
• Gertrude;
• Snow Crystal;
• Hollyhock;
• Anna Lisa.

Preparation and rules for storing bulbs before planting

Specimens collected from the flower bed are dried in the air, in the shade. They are kept for two weeks at a temperature of 28-30°C, then the same period of time is kept at a temperature of 16-18°C. The transition to a new temperature regime is carried out smoothly.

Until planting, the bulbs are stored in a well-ventilated area at a temperature of 17°C. It is important to correctly observe the terms and conditions for collecting planting material. Hyacinth is picky about them; if they are disturbed, the flowering will be poor.

Important! Holding at certain temperatures plays a big role for subsequent distillation.

Selecting a container

For planting one specimen of hyacinth, a pot for indoor plants with a diameter of 10 centimeters and the same depth is suitable. If you want to create a composition from several bulbs, take wide and shallow pots. When planting several plants, you need to distribute them so that they do not touch each other or touch the walls of the container. An important point is the presence of a drainage hole in the pot and a tray under it. Drainage is necessary to prevent rotting of planting material.

Preparing the ground

For hyacinths, mix 3 parts peat and 1 part sand. If the soil is acidic, then add dolomite flour. The use of fertilizers in this case is not appropriate, since the bulb accumulates all the necessary nutrients for germination.

You can also purchase ready-made soil at flower shops. In addition to the soil, you need to think about creating a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.

Planting a plant

After determining the growing period and variety, planting in a pot is carried out. The process occurs in the following stages:

1. The bulbs are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for 7-10 minutes.
2. Drainage material is placed at the bottom of the pot: expanded clay, small stones, moss.
3. The drainage is covered with a small layer of sand.
4. The pot is half filled with soil.
5. Place the onion on top.
6. Sprinkle it with the remaining soil so that 2-3 centimeters protrude above the ground.
7. Gently compact the soil with your fingers so that there are no gaps filled with air.
8. Sprinkle a small layer of sand on top.
9. Water with warm water.
10. After the hyacinths are planted, cold acceleration of root formation begins.

Important! When placing several specimens in a pot, maintain a distance of 2-2.5 centimeters between them.

If children have formed on the bulb, they are carefully removed, as they interfere with the development of the main plant. Hyacinth spends her energy on it, which goes towards the formation of flowers.

Cold acceleration

After planting, hyacinths are moved to a cool place to accelerate growth. A glazed balcony is perfect for this process. The place should be well ventilated, the temperature should be around 8°C. For cold acceleration, the bulbs are limited in lighting. The pot is covered with thick paper or dark cellophane. Several holes are made for air circulation.

The pot is left on the balcony for 10-16 weeks. It is necessary to monitor watering periodically. If the soil is dry, then water, if it is wet, then not. Hyacinths should not be overwatered, as this will cause the bulb to rot.

If there is a need to accelerate root germination, then before cold acceleration begins, the planting material is dipped into a root former solution. The bulbs are kept in it for 2 weeks, then planted.

Transfer the flower pot to a warm place

After cold acceleration, a sprout of 2-2.5 centimeters is formed. Gradually raise the temperature to 18-22°C. Remove the sun protection cap and provide the flower with 10 hours of daylight. When using a special lamp, it is placed 50 cm above the plant.

The plant will gradually grow and bloom. During the period of bud formation and flowering, the flower needs abundant and regular watering. Water the hyacinth in small doses every day. Water is used at room temperature, pre-settled.

After 3-4 weeks the plant blooms.

The nuances of forcing hyacinths in water

Hyacinths can also be potted in a pot of water.To do this, you need to follow several rules:

• Choose a container with a narrow neck so that the onion does not touch the water. If such dishes are not available, use cardboard neck linings.
• Activated carbon is placed in the water to prevent the water from spoiling.
• Water is added periodically as it evaporates.
• The plants are stored in this form in the refrigerator until it produces sprouts 3-4 centimeters long.
• Then it is transferred to a cool windowsill.
• After the formation of a strong stem, transfer it to a warm room and wait for the formation of buds.

Resuscitation of bulbs

After forcing hyacinths at home, the planting material is depleted and is considered unsuitable for further use. Usually spent bulbs are thrown away. But there are several options for restoring copies.

What to do with hyacinth after flowering

To restore the damaged bulb, the following manipulations are carried out:

1. Remove flowers after flowering.
2. Fertilize with mineral fertilizers.
3. The plant continues to be illuminated additionally and the flower is left at room temperature.
4. After a week, watering is reduced and the hyacinth is transferred to natural light.
5. After the leaves begin to dry out, watering is stopped completely.
6. The pot is turned on its side to remove excess liquid and left in this form for several days.
7. After the leaves have completely died off, the bulb is taken out and left at a temperature of 17°C until subsequent planting.
8. The next planting is best done in open ground so that the bulb is fully restored.
9. Large specimens are used for repeated forcing, but the flowering will not be lush and abundant as the first time.