The Latest Method for Propagating New Bulbs from Hyacinths

Hyacinth is a perennial bulbous flowering plant, widely used in gardening, with an extremely large number of cultivated varieties. It blooms beautifully, is easy to grow, and is very popular. Planting hyacinths generally just means planting a single bulb directly, but what method is usually relied upon for propagation. The following will introduce the relevant propagation methods.

1. Bulb division propagation

For hyacinth bulb division propagation, generally in August when flower buds have formed, take the bulb, evenly scoop out a portion at the bottom of the basal plate, then make a cut from bottom to top at the wound, and then make a horizontal cut. Forming a cross shape, the wound should reach the bud center, disinfect the wound with 0.1% mercury water, remove the flowing mucus, then expose to the sun for one day, bring back indoors, maintain a temperature of 20 degrees, after the base swells maintain 30 degrees, with humidity above 80%, after a few months small bulbs will grow, and after several years of cultivation they will bloom.

2. Seed propagation

Seed sowing propagation is not very common, but it is also necessary for seed production, or to maintain stable heredity. Seeds are generally planted in autumn, but the germination time is long, possibly because of low winter temperatures, and finally after growing for more than three years, four to five years are needed to bloom. Seedling propagation grows much more slowly.

3. Points to note

Generally after a long period of planting, hyacinths will only produce a few small bulbs, so the bulb division propagation method needs to be used. For hydroponic hyacinths, you can directly see small bulbs growing, and once they grow they can be separated and planted, but for those grown in soil, after the flowers fade, take them out to observe, and if there are attached ones they should be separated and cultivated. Generally the growth of daughter bulbs is somewhat slower. Cultivation requires enough growing space, and careful fertilizing and watering maintenance can allow earlier blooming.

4. Cultivation methods

If you choose soil cultivation, you need to prepare growing soil, generally using river sand, plant ash, and humus soil, mixed together as planting soil, you can test the acidity and alkalinity of the soil, and you need to prepare slightly alkaline soil for planting. Adding river sand increases permeability, drainage is good, and growth is easy. Hydroponic hyacinths are relatively simple, use a narrow-mouthed container, cultivate directly with clean water, and just change the water frequently.

Hyacinths naturally grow daughter bulbs very slowly, but after artificial treatment, they easily grow bulbs, and can soon be divided and planted. But seed production requires seed propagation to maintain genetic stability. Hydroponics is easier to manage than soil cultivation.