Hyacinth Blue Pearl
It is easy to force hyacinths to bloom early indoors. Hyacinths are bulbs that need a chilling period in order to bloom. Typically this would come from winter if planted outside. But you can purchase the bulbs in the fall and mimic winter’s cold period by placing them in the refrigerator for a few months.
To force hyacinths, place the bulbs in a paper bag, and put in the fridge. Make sure you label the bag because they look like red onions. Write a note on your calendar to remove them after 12 weeks. Some people get a rash from touching the bulbs so wear gloves. After about 12 weeks, take the bulbs out and plant in soil or water. To plant in soil, use a potting mix that is light like houseplant potting mix and a large plastic container with drainage holes. You can put this container in a decorative container like a pretty basket. Water and put in a sunny warm room.
I put mine in my three forcing vases, which are pinched vases that allow the bulbs to sit above the water. I have had these vases for so many years I don’t know where they came from. I have seen them for sale at large independent garden centers, through online garden supply stores, or sometimes as a boxed combo of bulb and vase. It is not necessary to use these though. You can place the bulbs on a layer of pebbles or marbles in a wide-mouthed jar, such as a jam or Mason jar, or in a container of soil.
Hyacinth Blue Pearl in forcing vases
When I did this, my Blue Pearls hyacinths bloomed in February, within 3 weeks of taking them out of the fridge. This was one month before they would have bloomed if they been in the garden. I could have started even earlier to get them to bloom in January, you just have to count 12 plus 3 weeks before you want them to bloom.
The flowers last, I got at least one month of bloom from these bulbs. BUT, hyacinths are very fragrant indoors. You don’t notice as much when they are blooming outside but when you have three in one room, it gets to be a bit much so space them out and have one per room.
When hyacinths are finished blooming, you can either put them in your compost pile or plant them in your garden in the summer. They have spent their energy and cannot be forced again. However, if left to grow in the garden they should bloom the following spring. As they age, the florets are not as compact — there is more space among them — but still they last a long time in the garden. Hyacinths are very reliable in the DC metro area. Squirrels and deer do not bother them and they continue to flower year after year. Try forcing hyacinths in your home this year.
