How to Force Hyacinths in Soil and Water // Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs to Bloom Inside

Here's how to force hyacinths in soil and water so you can have hyacinth bulbs in bloom inside. Hyacinth bulbs need a chilling period of 12-14 weeks at 40-45° F. in order to flower properly. You can always chill a bulb longer than necessary, just not shorter because then they will fail to flower properly.
The crisper drawer of your refrigerator is the ideal place to pre-chill bulbs. Place your hyacinth bulbs into a brown paper bag labeled with the date. Then place the bag into the refrigerator crisper drawer. Avoid placing the bulbs in the same drawer as fruit such as apples and pears. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas, which can kill the flower inside the bulb. Allow the bulbs to chill in your refrigerator for a minimum of 12-14 weeks.
When the chilling time is complete, you can either plant the bulbs in a pot with soil or snuggle them into a container that’s been filled with pebbles and a little water. Note that hyacinth bulbs have a powdery coating that can cause skin irritation, so always wear gloves when handling them.
To grow hyacinths over water, place a thick bed of pebbles into a watertight container such as a large glass vase or antique buffet dish. Nestle the pre-chilled bulbs into the pebbles, leaving the majority of the bulb exposed. Positioning the bulbs about an inch apart will give you a nice, full look. Fill the vessel with water until it is just below the base of the bulb.
To grow hyacinths in soil, choose a strong container with a drainage hole and fill it halfway with pre-moistened growing mix. Plant the hyacinth bulbs closely together with the pointy side of the bulb facing up. Cover with more soil, until the tips of the bulbs are about an inch below the soil surface.
After planting, place your pre-chilled hyacinth bulbs into a cool, dark environment (50 degrees F) for one-two weeks. An unheated basement or cool kitchen cabinet are both good options. This two- week rest period encourages the bulbs to produce roots rather than shoots. This is ideal. Strong root will help the flowers stay upright once they come into bloom.
Next, bring the bulbs out of darkness and place them in an area with indirect light and temperatures of approximately 60-68°F. Rotate the containers periodically to keep the flowering spikes straight. Water as needed to keep the soil lightly moist, or to keep the water level just below the base of the bulbs.
It usually takes about a month for pre-chilled hyacinth bulbs to come into bloom. Keeping the pots or vases in a relatively cool location out of direct sunlight will extend the bloom time.

[@janicekeisler9225]

Hi Danielle! You are rays of sunshine to boost our moods in the winter. Love that you show us ways to bring beautiful flowers into our homes. My yellow star amaryllis is now in bloom and who can resist a smile when seeing it? The double pink nymph will be blooming soon and the Gervaise is growing. I will do the hyacinths next year and I look forward to that. Please continue to show us more of these videos! Your demeanor and knowledge attracts and encourages us to try gardening. You should have 50,000 followers! Love your haircut!

[@debrabray8855]

Just wanted to say thank you for the information on soaking amaryllis roots to force growing 👍 I had a stubborn one from last year that is finally growing after I soaked it!

[@mygardeninbloom]

Beautiful blooms! Thank you Danielle. 🌿💜🌿

[@katjo0812]

Love the hair cut!! and the flowers 🌷🌷🌷

[@vickeypierce293]

I am so glad I found you!! Taking notes so I can do same this coming year. Your videos are wonderful

[@jeannet9592]

Excellent video, as always. I love your haircut!!

[@smoothsailingmp]

Very nice..how I wish we could have this in our home ..both my husband and I have allergies. .if any flowers or plants survive in our yard (we have deer and unwanted rabbits. .not our own). That love our yummy snacks.. .my husband bought me a huge orchid (lavender) after my knee replacement on 11/28/22.. say a couple weeks later. .and the flowers are amazing... found a place in our front room away from drafts...it is glorious. Thanking God for His cheer and of course my husband of 60 1/2 years. Have a nice day .love your video content

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Wow!!! GOD BLESS YOU 😊

[@RG-nv8nc]

Loving the new hair Danielle!

[@joycedagostino8869]

They're so beautiful and I bet the fragrance is amazing. Thanks

[@lafalto]

Thanks…just got some hyacinths for 80% off and will do as you instructed! Can’t wait

[@cathydowling3805]

Thank you for your informative, & beautiful videos.

[@ElenaJasic]

Great video!

[@marymurphy4825]

Hi Danielle, This is a great way to enjoy bulbs if you don't have an outdoor garden space! It brings a little cheer indoors through the cold winter days. Thank you for sharing your passion of growing flowers with us. You have inspired me to experiment growing bulbs indoors. Come Autumn my crisper drawer in the refrigerator will house a few bags of bulbs! 😀🌷

[@mslea13]

I don’t have any indoor space with a good lighting… Or ventilation. I had this massive Hason blooms that are thriving and falling over because they are so heavy!!! it’s Ohio spring here (so that means winter/spring/winter again/Spring/one small winter once more and then FINALLY actual Spring once we get to the abooooout the month of April. Idk what to DOOO!!!

[@nativefeesh]

Pretty! Oh & the flowers look OK, too....

[@dcjanick88]

Excited to try this. 🌷

[@atefbasha1809]

Hello and welcome to come back Danielle so much more and all friends and all 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💏💏💏💏💏✌💪⚘❤💘💏💏💏🌸🌼💚😜😚🤗🤔💏💏💏💏🌲🌷💮🌵🌵🌵🐎🐆🐆💏💏💏💏💏

[@EmilyRoseMcmullen24]

They look amazing hello from South Jersey

[@janispesiks8718]

Wooow super beautiful 👍👍💝💝💝💝🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@Orientalbackyardgarden]

Very nice, beautiful color 🌝💫✨

[@joycerapezzi2378]

Thanks, Danielle and by the way, your hair could not be cuter!

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Danielle.❄️💚🙃

[@koreanature]

My best friend, that's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.

[@stevenlittlejohn3112]

Stinkin snow in Northern ohio today... So excited to get stone for the water planting. The water planting in stones...so COOL!

[@seizedcarcass8440]

Well of course I would have been prepping hyacinth bulbs to store and then I watch this video and it explains why I started itching while working with the hyacinth bulbs

[@mollypitcher9380]

Danielle ~ 1- I love the vessel you used for the ones in water. 2- would you please explain in one of your videos the reasons why pots are shaped differently and how best to use them? I always see shallow for forcing bulbs but shallow is used for window boxes too. THANKS!🌸

[@AsimGarden]

Dear friend a great evening. Nice information about Hyacinths bulbs. Loving wishes from Pakistan

[@user-vi3ry9jg3v]

I like your blog, very interesting)) hello from Ukraine)

[@BrittanyS143]

Hi Danielle 👋 I was at Krogers today and seen there amaryllis in glass vase jars they were sitting above the water line were the neck of the vase was small enough that it sat comfortably

[@LR-ki5cp]

Nice and informative video. First time I received potted hyacinths as a gift. It's started to flower and I have no idea how much water (including frequency) to use. Thanks!!!

[@ninamaljkovic81]

Odlični savjeti kao i uvijek ❤❤ Može li savjet kada i kako uspjesno posijati rudbeckia i ehinacea? Nisam imala uspjeha u prijašnjoj sjetvi. Hvala 😘

[@mienkedezoete2146]

I keep forgetting to save some of my bulbs for forcing, gonna try putting a post it note on the September page of my calendar as a reminder 😊

[@mollypitcher9380]

Good idea!!! I’ll do that too!

[@heidihumbert184]

Hi Danielle! Love these flowers! I have bulbs in my crisper, can I plant these in outdoor containers in spring?

[@MsBubu26]

Loving the pastels! And the smell of hyacinths ☺️ thank you Danielle!

[@valeriacarrasco5987]

I honestly couldn’t stop looking at the door garland because it looks like mothman is staring at me lmao

[@kotsifou]

This is a very informative video. If I grow hyacinths inside, which sounds like a great idea cause I do not have a garden, what can I do with the bulbs afterwards? Is there a way to reuse them for next year?

[@MrsGillette]

How do I correctly water due to no drainage. Those containers are so beautiful 😍

[@GangsterGardener]

Since they are perennial do you store the bulbs to force again next year or plant outdoors? Just curious what you do with forced bulbs after bloom.

[@darlenetrowsse9269]

💐

[@sapnapokarna2218]

From where to buy these bulbs…ur flowers are so beautiful

[@welersonvip]

Olá Daniela tudo bem poderia me mostrar algum site em que ensina a polinizar os hyacinthos. Obrigado.

[@sapnapokarna2218]

Mauve is so beautiful….where to buy these bulbs

[@user-vy7uq6ds3s]

😍❤

[@risalangdon9883]

Instead of rocks/pebbles, can small decorative glass stones or even fire glass be used???

[@dmm1940]

👏

[@sosoa9919]

What to do once you cut the hyacinths. How to preserve the bulbs for next year growth?

[@fishcats1]

Do you keep them again for next year, or treat them as annuals?

[@lindadonahue9302]

Hope you have advise …….I have an amaryllis that has grown to a 36 inch stalk. I placed the pot in a west facing window. It seems to me it’s taller than expected. Any info you may have is greatly appreciated. Thank you…

[@MelissaM83]

What if you get a kit on Christmas day, should i assume it's been chilled and immediately placing in soil or water? Or do i still need to chill this kit bulb sold in December as "ready to use"....also what if my kit buld has a pup on it already right at the root base? Do i pluck it off or leave it?

[@glaizaroe]

Would this work for grape hyacinth?

[@kitchenGardenofficalchannel027]

Hi❤🙋🙋

[@giuli.aa_a]

hello, my hyacinth is in a water vase, but it is facing the sun. i have my blinds on my window open and turn it everyday but still faces the sun. do you have any tips???

[@mslea13]

My potted hyacinths are shooting up like crazy, falling over and I don’t know what to do! I wanted to plant them before they bloomed, but everything I read said that to you and to wait until fall. I live in Ohio… And these little guys are in my window so that doesn’t get very much like at all and they’re freaking thriving!!! so much so that they are so full of blooms. They are falling over!😢😢😢

[@jayadama1301]

The hyacinth are completing soiled!

[@koomatkaamit8504]

If in the water... Worry about mosquito will make eggs in the water