A potted hyacinth is one of the most popular spring gifts. When its bulbs are forced, it can bloom heartily on your dining room table when ground outside is still covered in snow, providing a very welcome promise of spring to come. Once that hyacinth has bloomed, however, don’t throw it away! With just a little effort, you can turn that one-time gift into a staple of your house or garden that will bloom year after year. Keep reading to learn about hyacinth bulb curing and storing hyacinth bulbs.
When to Dig Up Hyacinth Bulbs for Storing
It’s important not to dig up your hyacinth bulbs at the wrong time, or else your bulbs may not have enough energy to sprout. Once the blooms have passed, cut off the blossom stalk to keep the plant from wasting energy on seed production. Keep the leaves and continue to water them as usual-- the leaves are essential for storing up energy in the bulb. When the leaves start to brown, reduce your watering by half. Only when the leaves have died completely should you stop watering. When the soil has dried out, carefully dig up the bulb and remove the dead foliage. Curing hyacinths is very easy. Lay the bulbs out on a newspaper in a cool, dark place for three days. After that, store them in a cool, dark location in a mesh bag. They’re now ready to be planted in your garden in the autumn or forced indoors in late winter.
How to Cure Hyacinth Bulbs
If your hyacinths are growing outdoors, there’s no real reason to dig them up and cure them-- they’ll come back naturally in the spring. However, if you want to move them to a new spot, there’s no reason you can’t. While your hyacinths are still above ground, mark their exact spot with a stake-- once they die back, it will be very hard to find the bulbs. In autumn, carefully dig up the bulbs and lay them out on newspaper, then store them in a mesh bag. The process of curing hyacinths is just the same as with forced bulbs. They’re now ready to plant or force as you choose.
-
Best Climbing Roses For Every Garden: 12 Stunning Varieties For Pergolas, Arches & WallsDiscover the best climbing roses to plant in your garden to ensure a long summer of glorious blooms.
-
Go Big With Containers In Small Spaces! 5 Easy Hacks For Big Garden Pots In Small GardensThe temptation with small gardens and patios is to make containers and planting ideas small – but we say go big! Try these practical hacks for beautiful big garden pots in small gardens
-
Grow Ornithogalum Candicans: Add Sparkle To Borders With Summer HyacinthLooking like a giant snowdrop, Ornithogalum candicans lights up summer borders. Find out how to grow summer hyacinth for bright white blooms.
-
Hyacinth Bulb Itch – What To Do For Hyacinth Skin AllergyHyacinth is a popular fall planted bulb for cheerful, fragrant spring blooms. These flowers help to drive away winter glooms. Unfortunately, hyacinth irritation can be an issue. Learn more about this skin problem, referred to as hyacinth bulb itch, in the following article.
-
Feather Hyacinth Plants – Tips For Planting Feathered Grape Hyacinth BulbsThe feather hyacinth, aka tassel hyacinth plant, can add another cool textural element to the garden with their feathery plumes. If you have some of these bulbs and are ready to go, click this article for tips on how to grow a Muscari feather hyacinth, including tips on their care.
-
Growing Amethyst Hyacinths: Information On Amethyst Hyacinth PlantsGrowing Amethyst hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Amethyst’) couldn’t be much easier and, once planted, each bulb produces one spiky, sweet-smelling, pinkish-violet bloom every spring, along with seven or eight big, shiny leaves. Learn more in this article.
-
Desert Hyacinth Information – Learn About The Cultivation Of Desert HyacinthsDesert hyacinth is a fascinating desert plant that produces tall, pyramid-shaped spikes of dazzling yellow blooms during the spring months. What makes desert hyacinth plants so interesting? For more desert hyacinth information, click this article.
-
Pruning Hyacinth Bean Plants: When To Prune Hyacinth Bean PlantsPruning may sacrifice flowers, but if the plant gets out of control, you know when to prune hyacinth bean. Pruning is strictly for aesthetics and to keep the plant in a habit you require. This article has additional information on pruning hyacinth bean plants.
-
Hyacinth Seed Propagation – How To Grow Hyacinths From SeedAs hyacinth flowers fade and small green seed pods begin to form in their place, you may wonder, can you propagate hyacinth seeds? Click this article to learn about saving hyacinth seed and hyacinth seed propagation.
-
Hyacinth Bean Vines: Tips On Growing Hyacinth Beans In PotsWith purple flowers and striking fuchsia pods, hyacinth bean vines brighten up any garden. But what if you don't have a garden? Is it possible to grow these beauties in a pot? Click this article to learn more about how to plant hyacinth beans in containers.
