When Do Hyacinths Bloom? A Full Analysis of the Blooming Period
Hyacinths are native to southern Europe, southern Africa and the Asia region, with the Netherlands being the main production area. There are more than 2,000 horticultural varieties of hyacinths worldwide, mainly divided into two categories: "Dutch types" and "Roman types." The former are the authentic varieties, with most plants producing only 1 flower spike, a sturdy habit and larger flowers. The latter are mostly mutated hybrids, with each plant able to bear two or three flower spikes, a delicate habit and smaller flowers. Most consumers prefer to buy Dutch hyacinths.
The Origin of Hyacinths
Hyacinths are native to the Mediterranean coast of southern Europe, the Asia Minor region and the Netherlands, and are now cultivated all over the world. Wild species grow in limestone areas at altitudes above 2,600 m in West Asia and Central Asia.
The Netherlands is the main production area for hyacinths. Cultivation of hyacinths was very popular in the 18th century, and more than two thousand varieties had been recorded at that time. Starting in the 1950s, only a small number were cultivated in botanical gardens and parks across China, for flowerbed display. It was not until after the 1980s that hyacinths developed on a larger scale across the country, widely used in spring flower exhibitions and potted plant sales. To this day, cultivated hyacinths have begun to enter homes and public places for indoor decoration and display, and demand increases year by year. However, China is not yet able to propagate its own seeds and still needs to introduce them from abroad.
The Habits of Hyacinths
Hyacinths like sunlight and tolerate cold, and are suited to growing in cool, humid environments and loose, fertile sandy soil; they dislike waterlogging. They prefer warm, humid winters, cool and slightly dry summers, and a sunny or semi-shaded environment. They like fertilizer and prefer fertile, well-drained sandy loam. They can be grown in the ground, in pots or in water. They root in autumn, new shoots emerge in early spring, they bloom in March, the fruit ripens in late May, and the above-ground parts wither in early June and enter dormancy. Flower bud differentiation takes place during the dormant period, with an optimum differentiation temperature of around 25°C, and the differentiation process takes about 1 month. After flower bud differentiation and before elongation growth, there must be a low-temperature stage of about two months, and the temperature must not exceed 13°C.
During the growth of hyacinths, the root system grows best when the bulb is at a low temperature of 2-6°C. The optimum temperature for bud break is 5-10°C, the optimum temperature for leaf growth is 5-12°C, and 15-18°C is most favorable during the bud-appearing and blooming period. The storage temperature for bulbs is 20-28°C, with 25°C being the optimum and most ideal for flower bud differentiation. They can tolerate short periods of frost. They like a cool, humid, sunny environment and are relatively cold-tolerant.
The Blooming Period of Hyacinths
The blooming period of hyacinths, counted from the opening of the first flower, is generally about two weeks. They generally bloom between March and June. Their growth cycle is: dormancy in summer, rooting in autumn and winter, sprouting in early spring, blooming in March, and the plant withering in early June.
After a hyacinth has bloomed once, cut off the withered roots and leaves and place it in a cool spot or plant it in soil; in September, plant it again in the ground or in a pot, apply a base fertilizer and top-dress, to encourage the mother bulb to split and help the daughter bulbs grow larger. Only when they have grown to a certain size can they bloom again. You can also bring them out to plant again the following spring, and they can bloom once more.
The Flower Language of Hyacinths
The flower language of hyacinths is "as long as you light the fire of life, you can share in a rich life." In addition, hyacinths also carry various meanings such as victory, competition, joy, affection, happiness, deep passion, admiration, stubbornness, life and eternal remembrance, and hyacinths of different colors all have different flower language connotations.