how to grow a hyacinth bulb

For spring garden blooms, plant hyacinth bulbs in the fall six to eight weeks before the first frost. They should be placed root-end-down (widest side), about 4 inches deep. Give them some room to spread out by spacing them about 3 to 4 inches apart. Cover with soil, and water well.

What do I do with hyacinth bulbs after flowering?

After your hyacinths have finished flowering, snip off the flower stalks, but don't remove the foliage. The bulbs need their leaves to gather energy for next year's blooms. At the end of the spring season, the foliage will die back naturally, at which point it can be removed.

How do you plant hyacinth bulbs indoors?

How to plant

Almost fill an 8cm (3in) pot with moist bulb fibre, and then push a bulb in gently to half its depth. ...
Put pots in a cool, dark place, such as a garage or shed for about ten weeks to allow the roots to grow. ...
Check bulbs regularly and water if the compost feels dry.

What month do you plant hyacinth bulbs?

When to plant hyacinths

Plant bulbs outdoors in borders and containers in early autumn for flowering in March and April. Prepared bulbs should be planted in September if you want blooms for Christmas flowering, as they require 10-12 weeks for good root and shoot development.

How long do hyacinth bulbs take to grow?

Forcing hyacinth bulbs to bloom indoors is simple; it just takes a little patience. It can take as long as 13 weeks for the bulbs to come into flower. Hyacinth bulbs require a period of cooling before they will bloom.

Can you leave hyacinth bulbs in pots?

Hyacinths are famous for their pleasant fragrance. They also grow very well in pots, meaning once they're in bloom you can move them wherever you'd like, perfuming a patio, a walkway, or a room in your house.

Can indoor hyacinth bulbs be used again?

Because of their attractive flowers and delicious smell, potted hyacinths are a popular gift. Once they're done blooming, though, don't rush to throw them away. With a little care, you can keep your indoor hyacinth after blooming to ensure many more fragrant blossoms in the future.

Should I water hyacinth bulbs?

Hyacinth bulbs can irritate your skin, so do wear gloves to handle them. Plant your bulbs to a depth of 10cm (4"), spacing them 8cm (3") apart. ... As long as the soil is moist, you don't need to water your bulbs in.

How do I save my potted hyacinth bulbs?

When all the foliage has completely died back – which will be at least six weeks after flowering – you can either lift the bulbs from the pot and store them in a dry, dark place ready for repotting next autumn or leave them in the pot, making sure they do not become too wet.

How long do indoor hyacinths last?

You can cover them with an old blanket, some straw or a thick newspaper, and store them in a shed or garage where they will remain cool (9ºC is ideal), for up to 10 weeks (forced bulbs need only six weeks). Check them regularly and give them another light watering if the compost feels dry.

What happens if you plant bulbs in the spring?

Waiting until spring to plant the bulbs will not satisfy these requirements, so spring-planted bulbs will likely not bloom this year. ... The bulbs likely won't bloom this spring, but they may bloom later in the summer, out of their normal sequence, or they may just wait until next year to bloom at the normal time.

Do hyacinths like sun or shade?

Sun or Shade: For the largest flowers and straightest stems, plant your hyacinths in full sun. The bulbs will also flower in light shade or half-day sun. Hardiness Zone: Hyacinths are winter hardy in growing zones 4-8. In warmer climates, the bulbs need to be pre-chilled before planting.

Can I plant hyacinth bulbs in spring?

Hyacinth bulbs (Hyacinthus spp.) cannot be planted just any time of year -- they naturally respond to prevailing seasonal weather and may not bloom correctly if buried too early or late within the ground.

Do bulbs multiply?

Many bulbs readily multiply by producing offsets without any help from the gardener. But as well as taking advantage of this, it is quite simple to grow more of your favourite bulbs using just a few other techniques, including scaling, bulbils, seed and division.

How do you multiply hyacinth bulbs?

The best way is to dig up your hyacinths and remove the offshoots and place the parent bulb right back into the ground. You can either plant the offshoots at that time or wait until later.

Are hyacinths poisonous?

Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous; they contain oxalic acid. Handling hyacinth bulbs can cause mild skin irritation. Protective gloves are recommended.

How often should you water hyacinth bulbs?

Water your Hyacinth every two to three days. During the winter, you will probably water less frequently whereas, in the summer, you will water more often. Don't let the soil dry out completely but, at the same time, take care not to over water your plant either. Too much water is no good for the roots.

Why is my hyacinth dying?

Too much light can cause brown leaves on hyacinth, as well as not enough. Water. Root rot is another major problem with indoor hyacinths. Overwatering can cause the root system to turn into mush, inhibiting its ability to move nutrients through the plant.

How do you plant hyacinth bulbs in water?

Growing Hyacinths Without Soil

Place the bulbs on top, root side down, and fill with more pebbles just like you would with soil, until only the top third of the bulbs sticks out. Pour in enough water so the bottom of the bulb sits just above the water—it will grow roots that reach into the water.

How do you care for potted hyacinths?

How to Care for Potted Hyanciths

Set the hyacinth pot in an area that receives bright sunlight until the bulbs begin to flower. ...
Water the bulbs when the top half inch of soil feels dry. ...
Move the hyacinth pot to an area that receives bright but indirect sunlight once the flower blossoms begin to open.

What do you do with forced hyacinth bulbs?

To Save All Forced Bulbs: Clip off dead blooms, leaving the foliage intact. Set containers in a sunny window indoors, or a bright, but protected spot outside and continue watering as usual. Allow the soil to dry out completely once the leaves have withered and died.

Are hyacinths poisonous to cats?

Toxicity to pets

Both hyacinths and tulips belong to the Liliaceae family, and contain allergenic lactones or similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), and when ingested in large amounts, can result in severe clinical signs.