Forcing hyacinths to bloom in water was a Victorian passion that fell out of
favor in the twentieth century � perhaps because garden writers made
the pr
ocess seem more complicated and mysterious than it is. Hyacinth bulbs are ex
ceptionally eager to bloom and will do so with only the slightest encouragem
ent, providing a fragrant and long-lasting symbol of spring.
To force hyacinths, buy pre-chilled bulbs that have received a cold treatmen
t imitating winter. The best varieties for forcing are Dutch hyacinths such
as the rose-pink 'lady Derby,' ' the lilac-blue 慏elft Blue,� the
deep-red 慗
an Bos,� and the pure-white 慍arnegie.� Dutch hyacinths are
also great peren
nial bulbs for the garden. If you don抰 like the formality of their tight bl
ooms, remember that the blooms loosen over the years, a feature that Martha
loves.
Preparation
Store hyacinth bulbs in cool, damp sand until you are ready to force them. T
he bulbs will flower about 6 weeks after you put them in water, so if you ne
ed blossoms for an occasion, count backward to determine the planting time.
This is not an exact science, so start plenty of bulbs over the course of 2
weeks to guarantee flowers for that special day.
1. Use forcing glasses, or choose containers that will hold the bulbs just a
bove the water and allow room for the roots below, but won抰 tip over when t
he big, heavy flowers arrive. Place a bulb on a vessel and add water until i
t reaches the bulb抯 bottom. You抣l need to change the water twice a week by
tipping the liquid out and replacing it with fresh lukewarm water.
2. Put the bulbs in a cool (40� F to 55� F), dark place until
roots develop
and leaves begin to sprout, about 3 to 4 weeks. Below 40� F, the
bulbs will
remain dormant. Above 55� F, they could rot. Basements and garages
often pro
vide the ideal conditions. Check the bulbs to be sure that the water level i
s high enough, and change the water periodically.
3. Once foliage begins to develop, move the bulbs to a slightly warmer (65
65533;
F), sunlit spot for flowering; a north-facing window is perfect. Turn them d
aily to prevent leaning, and change the water regularly. After about 2 weeks
, you will have gorgeous perfumed flowers that will last (in a cool spot) an
other 2 weeks. Once the blooms have browned and died, throw out the bulbs. W
ater forcing uses every scrap of energy a bulb has to offer, so the bulbs wi
ll not re-bloom. If you want another round of blooms, order more bulbs; it抯
a chance to try some different varieties.