Grow Hyacinths for Christmas

It may seem to be a bit early to be thinking of Christmas presents but September is the time to plant hyacinth bulbs so that they flower for Christmas.  They make a wonderful gift that will fill the room with fragrance for all those hard to please relatives you can never think of a present for.

Choose prepared bulbs that are recommended for indoor cultivation (not the ones for Spring flowering outside). They should be a good size, disease free and firm. If you are planning to plant up three or five in a container select the same variety as there can be a variation in flowering time and size. Choose a container with drainage holes in the base and fill half way up with bulb fibre. Position your hyacinth bulbs so that they do not touch the side of the bowl or each other. Beware when handling bulbs, as they can cause skin irritation. Continue to fill the bowl with the bulb fibre.

The bulbs should not be planted too deeply - the tops should still be visible above the bulb fibre. The bulbs then need to be left in a dark, cool area like a shed or garage for 6-10 weeks.  Any warmth at this stage will lead to failure. During this time they should be checked and kept moist. When the shoots are 1” – 2” high move the bowl into a cool room indoors near to the window but not in direct sun and away from heat sources such as radiators. The leaves will now develop and in a few weeks flower buds will appear. Keep the compost moist at all times turning the bowl each day so there is even growth.  As the flowers develop they may need support with some small canes.

After the flowers have finished remove them and continue to water and feed until the leaves have withered.  Once dry, these bulbs can be stored in a cool shed and planted in the garden for next year but will not be suitable for using again for indoor display.

Thank you very much to Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Sidcup, www.ruxley-manor.co.uk, for their help in writing this article.   If you’re looking to buy prepared hyacinth or any other bulbs, they have a great selection.   They also offer advice on all aspects of gardening to young and old.