How to Grow Hyacinths: Growing Methods and Precautions

Hyacinth Growing Methods and Precautions

Selecting and Planting

When choosing bulbs, pick ones with bright skin color, firm texture, and no disease spots or insect holes. Usually, the color of the bulb skin can basically tell you what color flowers it will produce. For example, one with purplish-red outer skin will bloom purplish-red flowers; if white, it will bloom white flowers. However, some hybrid-bred varieties have more complex colors that are sometimes hard to distinguish, so you should ask the seller clearly before buying. After bringing the bulbs home, to break their dormancy, first place them in the bottom compartment of the refrigerator for about one month of cold storage, so they can bloom smoothly later. But when taking them out of the refrigerator, it is best to move them to a cool place for seven or eight days before planting.

Cultivation Methods

Many people grow hyacinths in a specially made glass bottle shaped like a gourd, so that the flower cluster of the hyacinth can be admired above and a bundle of thick white roots can be seen below. This scene of flourishing flowers and roots together is rarely seen except with orchids; the hyacinth flower and roots make it hard to find elsewhere. Hyacinth is also called Dutch narcissus or five-color narcissus. Hyacinth is fairly tolerant of low cold, but fears heat. Hyacinth prefers a cool, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. Hyacinth is best grown in well-drained sandy loam; it grows poorly in heavy clay soil.

During the growing period it needs constant watering. If left in the soil, after the flowering period cut off the flower stems and let the leaves wither naturally; fertilizer needs to be applied every year. However, some varieties will produce fewer and fewer flowers after being planted for several years. If you want to store them after the flowering period, you need to pull them out; after the leaves dry naturally, cut off the leaves, and it is best to place them in a breathable bag with wood shavings, kept in a dry, ventilated, cool place.

Hyacinth prefers a cool, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. It is fairly tolerant of low cold, but fears heat. It is best grown in well-drained sandy loam and grows poorly in heavy clay soil. Hyacinth bulbs must grow to 19 cm before they can bloom. Flowering occurs each year in March-April.

It can also be grown in water like narcissus. For water-grown hyacinth, in December place the bulb in a wide-mouthed glass bottle with a grid, add a little charcoal to help prevent rot and disinfect. The bulb only needs to be soaked up to its base, then place it in a dark place and cover the bottle with black cloth. After about 20-plus days of sprouting in a fully dark environment, move it outdoors to receive sunlight; at first give 1-2 hours of light per day, then gradually increase to 7-8 hours. In most cases, with good weather, it will bloom by the Spring Festival. After the hyacinth blooms, if the bulb is stored well, it can still bloom the next year, but the flowers will be smaller and the flower stalk will also shrink; this is mainly because the bulb has degenerated. Therefore, for hyacinth cultivation it is better to plant for one year and then buy new bulbs.

How to Grow Hyacinths: Hyacinth Growing Methods and Precautions

Hyacinth is a common variety of flowering plant for water culture, with very rich colors, and is deeply loved by everyone. But many friends do not know how to grow hyacinths. Today the editor will explain in detail the growing methods and precautions for hyacinths.

   If you want to know how to grow hyacinths, first learn about the ecological habits of hyacinths.
   Hyacinth prefers a warm, humid winter and a cool, slightly dry summer, in a sunny or semi-shaded environment. It likes fertilizer and prefers fertile, well-drained sandy loam; avoid overly wet or heavy clay soil.
   Hyacinth is native to southern Europe. It prefers a cool, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. The bulb has a summer dormancy habit: it roots in autumn and winter, sprouts new shoots in early spring, blooms in March, and the plant withers in early June. During the growth process of the hyacinth, the root system grows best when the bulb is at a low temperature of 2-6°C. The suitable temperature for bud sprouting is 5-10°C, the suitable temperature for leaf growth is 10-12°C, and 15-18°C is most favorable during the bud stage and flowering period. The storage temperature for bulbs is 20-28°C, with 25°C being the most suitable, and most ideal for flower bud differentiation.

   Hyacinth Growing Methods and Precautions
   1. Bulb selection. The nutrients needed for hyacinth flowering are mainly supplied by the nutrients stored in the bulb scales and leaves. Only by choosing bulbs with undamaged skin, fleshy scales that are not excessively shriveled, relatively hard and heavy, and plump, can you get abundant and beautiful flowers.
   2. Soil requirements. The soil should be fertile, with high organic matter content, good aggregate structure, and a pH of 6-7; leaf mold can be used. Soil moisture should be kept between 60-70%; if too high, root respiration is inhibited and rot easily occurs; if too low, the aboveground part wilts and may even die. Air humidity should be kept at around 80%, and humidity can be increased by misting and sprinkling water on the ground, or reduced by ventilation and air exchange.
   3. Light. When growing hyacinths, note that too weak light will lead to weak plants, overly long stems, small flower buds, early flower fading, and yellowing leaves. You can use an incandescent lamp about 1 m away for supplemental light. But too strong light can also cause scorching of leaves and petals or shorten the flowering period.
   4. Temperature and humidity regulation. If the temperature is too high, even above 35°C, flower bud differentiation will be inhibited, abnormal growth will occur, and the rate of blind flowers will increase; if the temperature is too low, the flower buds will suffer frost damage.

   After introducing the growing methods for hyacinths, let's look at the precautions for water-grown hyacinths:
   1. There should be a 1-2 cm space between the water level and the base plate of the bulb, so the roots can breathe. It is strictly forbidden to fill the water so high that it submerges the bottom of the bulb!
   2. If growing in clean water, change the water once every 7 days; if using a hydroponic nutrient solution, replace the nutrient solution every 15-20 days depending on the degree of cloudiness. In any case, keep the water quality in the bottle clean.
   3. Before the bulb sprouts, do not place it under direct sunlight. After sprouting, place it in a bright, airy position with sunlight to benefit its growth.

   Now everyone knows how to grow hyacinths, right? Hyacinths are very beautiful, and their flower language is sorrowful love and eternal remembrance. Do you also especially want to plant them? After learning so many hyacinth growing methods and precautions, you might as well give it a try.

How to Grow Beautiful Hyacinths: Hyacinth Growing Methods and Precautions

Hyacinth is also known as Dutch narcissus, Western narcissus, and five-color narcissus. It is a perennial herbaceous bulbous plant with rich flower colors, including red, blue, white, yellow, purple, and many other colors. Its main method of propagation is by dividing the bulbs. Its flower language includes joy, competition, betting, games, sorrow, sorrowful love, eternal remembrance, and so on. Many people ask the editor how to grow beautiful hyacinths. Today the editor will chat with everyone and explain the two growing methods for hyacinths, soil culture and water culture, as well as the precautions.

How to Grow Beautiful Hyacinths

To grow hyacinths well, first of all, bulb selection is very important. The nutrients needed for hyacinth flowering are mainly supplied by the nutrients stored in the bulb scales and leaves. Only by choosing bulbs with undamaged skin, fleshy scales that are not excessively shriveled, relatively hard and heavy, and plump, can you get abundant and beautiful flowers.

When we buy hyacinth bulbs, we must first disinfect and sterilize them. Doing so can prevent the hyacinth bulbs from rotting. First remove the dried skin and old roots of the hyacinth bulb, then soak it in potassium permanganate solution (concentration judged by a faint purplish-red color) for 15 minutes for soaking disinfection.

After disinfecting the hyacinth bulb, shake the water off the bulb and let it dry naturally in the shade for one day. Then plant the hyacinth bulb into the potting soil, with the soil height based on covering the highest point of the bulb by 2 cm, and after planting, water the pot thoroughly. Because the flower buds of the hyacinth bulb have already differentiated and formed, no base fertilizer is needed during planting.

Place the planted hyacinth in an environment of about 10°C to encourage root growth and sprouting. After about 20-30 days, the hyacinth will sprout and take root. When watering planted hyacinths, water thoroughly only after the soil has dried out; do not overwater.

After the hyacinth sprouts, you can appropriately raise the temperature of the growing environment to shorten the time needed for flowering. The suitable growing temperature for hyacinths is 15-20°C. Usually, give the hyacinth more sunlight; with more sunlight, the hyacinth plant will be relatively shorter and have a graceful shape. With proper care, hyacinths will generally bloom in about one month; if the ambient temperature is higher, the hyacinth will bloom earlier.

The flowering period of hyacinths is about 10-15 days; if the ambient temperature is low, the flowering period is relatively longer. After flowering, it can be moved indoors for viewing, with an appropriate amount of light given each day to prevent the leaves and flower stems from growing too long.

After the hyacinth flowers fade, you can remove the spent flowers and nurture the bulb. In daily management, apply a nitrogen fertilizer about once every 2 weeks to promote the development of the bulb in the soil; how well the bulb is nurtured directly affects whether it will bloom again the next year.

After summer arrives, the leaves of the hyacinth will slowly turn yellow and wither naturally. The amount of watering can be gradually reduced, and after the bulb enters dormancy, stop watering and place it in a cool place.

Hyacinth Growing Methods

Hyacinth cultivation can be divided into soil culture and water culture. Below we will learn together the methods for soil culture and water culture of hyacinths.

I. Hyacinth Soil Culture Method

If your hyacinth is grown in soil, then you need to pay attention to the following points:

First, the choice of soil:

For hyacinths, it is best to choose well-drained, not-too-dry sandy loam, requiring fertile soil, high organic matter content, good aggregate structure, neutral to slightly alkaline, with a pH of 6-7. You can prepare the growing medium in the ratio of leaf mold 5 : garden soil 3 : coarse sand 1.5 : bone meal 0.5. Before planting, chemical agents such as formalin can be used; at a soil temperature of 10-15°C, apply the chemical to the soil surface and immediately cover with plastic film, then after 3 days of warm weather remove the film, air it for 1 day, and then plant, keeping the soil moist. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer. For field cultivation, avoid continuous cropping.

It is suitable to carry out in October-November, and choosing well-drained soil is the most important condition. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, add a thin layer of sand on top, then arrange the bulbs with a plant spacing of 15 cm-18 cm and cover with 5 cm-8 cm of soil. Also cover with grass to keep the soil loose and moist. Generally no other management is done before flowering. After flowering, if you do not intend to collect seeds, cut off the flower stems to promote bulb development; the cutting position should be as high on the flower stem as possible. In early June, the bulbs can be dug out, spread out, graded, and stored in a cold storage; the summer temperature should not exceed 28°C.

Second, potted planting:

Use loam, leaf mold, fine sand, etc. mixed together as the growing medium. Generally, a 10 cm diameter pot holds one bulb, and a 15 cm diameter pot holds 2-3 bulbs. Then bury the pot in the soil, covering it with 10 cm-15 cm of soil. After 7-8 weeks, when the shoots grow to more than 10 cm, remove the covering soil to let sunlight reach them. Generally planted in October-November and blooms in March.

Third, fertilizing:

During the autumn and winter growing period, apply a topdressing mainly of phosphorus and potassium 1-2 times. No fertilizing is needed during the flowering period. Apply topdressing once before and once after flowering. For potted soil planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting.

Fourth, watering:

Hyacinth likes sunlight and is fairly cold-tolerant, suitable for growing in a cool, humid environment. Therefore it needs frequent watering to keep soil moisture between 60-70%, which benefits the growth and reproduction of hyacinths.

Fifth, hyacinth requirements for light and temperature:

After planting the hyacinth, place it in a sunny spot and let it receive 1 to 2 hours of scattered light each day, so its leaves and flower stems grow robustly, and change the direction every day so it does not grow leaning to one side due to phototropism. If light is insufficient, or if it is dry for a long time in winter, flowering will be poor. If you see that the emerging flower stem is too short to extend, you can place the potted flower in a dark place for several days to encourage the stems and leaves to grow long, and after the flower stem extends, return to normal care. The temperature required for forcing blooms is 5-10°C.

II. Hyacinth Water Culture Method

If your hyacinth is grown in soil, then you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Choice of vase and water requirements:

You can use a wide-mouthed glass bottle with a grid, a plastic bottle, etc. The water quality should be clean, and the water should be changed once a week. If nutrient solution is added, decide the frequency of water changes according to the degree of cloudiness of the water. Also add water frequently to keep the water soaking up to the bulb.

2. Cultivation method:

There should be a 1-2 cm space between the water surface and the bulb; never let the water submerge the bottom of the bulb. Then place it in a dark place and cover the bottle with black cloth to promote root development. After the roots grow to about 10 cm, move it to a warm south-facing windowsill with sufficient scattered light.

3. Water-grown hyacinth requirements for water temperature and light:

The water temperature should not be too high; 15-20°C is best. When the leaves and flower buds grow out, let it receive 1 to 2 hours of scattered light each day so its leaves and flower stems grow robustly, and change the direction every day so it does not grow leaning to one side due to phototropism. No fertilizing is needed, and in March-April of the second year it will produce a plant of bright, fragrant hyacinths.

4. Room temperature requirements:

Keep the room temperature at 17-20°C, and you will enjoy the process of bud formation, growth, and color development. But do not place it directly near a heat source; this way the beautiful hyacinth flowers will have a longer blooming time.

Hyacinth Growing Precautions

1. Bulb selection must be done carefully, because the nutrients needed for hyacinth flowering are mainly supplied by the nutrients stored in the bulb scales and leaves. Therefore only by choosing bulbs with undamaged skin, fleshy scales that are not excessively shriveled, relatively hard and heavy, and plump, can you get abundant and beautiful flowers.

2. Hyacinths need only more than 5000 Lx of light for growth to maintain normal physiological activity. Too weak light will lead to weak plants, overly long stems, small flower buds, early flower fading, and yellowing leaves. You can use an incandescent lamp about 1 m away for supplemental light. But too strong light can also cause scorching of leaves and petals or shorten the flowering period.

3. When the temperature is too high, even above 35°C, flower bud differentiation will be inhibited, abnormal growth will occur, and the rate of blind flowers will increase; while if the temperature is too low, the flower buds will suffer frost damage.

4. When changing the water for water-grown hyacinths, be extremely careful, because hyacinth roots are very fragile and easily broken, so as not to damage the roots and affect the growth and flowering of the hyacinth.

5. The bulb is toxic. If swallowed by mistake, it can cause symptoms such as dizziness, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, so be sure to strictly prevent children from eating it by mistake.