Magic of Christmas
Prepared hyacinths will bloom in December, but David Overend
Ilike hyacinths but not enough to plant them to bloom indoors at Christmas. Mind you, I am not overly fond of Christmas. Prepared hyacinths have been “prepared” for early flowering. This is achieved by chilling the bulbs (during the summer) at sub-zero temperatures for a week or so.
Some people buy these prepared hyacinths and start them into growth in special glass vases designed especially to grow individual bulbs.
Simply add water to within about one centimetre of the base of the bulb and wait for roots to develop.
This is almost like magic gardening – kids will be fascinated to watch as the roots emerge like some science-fiction monstrosity, to be followed by the green leaves and flower buds swelling and emerging from the top. By December, said hyacinths should be preparing to make it a colourful Christmas.
And when they’ve finished flowering, either chuck them in the compost bin or plant them outdoors, in the garden – they may not grow as big next year, but you lose nothing by trying.
Alternatively, plant the bulbs in containers filled with a gritty, free-draining compost, leaving a third of the bulb above the soil and put them into a dark, cool place for at least six weeks. This encourages them to grow, and when they are brought out into light and warmth they continue to grow rapidly before finally flowering.
While I appreciate the beauty – and scent – of large-flowering hyacinths, I much prefer muscari, the small grape hyacinth, which, grown in a container in