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Planting Hyacinth Bulbs

When?

• To achieve optimum flowering results, it is important to plant your hyacinth bulbs at the right time. The best time to plant hyacinth bulbs is in the fall, from September to November, depending on your geographic location. Any time after your first fall frost and before the ground freezes.
• When buying bulbs, select the largest ones. The larger the hyacinth bulb, the stronger the stem and the bigger the flowers. The number of florets on the flower stalk depends on the size of the bulb. Large bulbs can produce 60 to 70 florets.
• For garden planting, however, such bulbs are less suitable because the flower stalks become top-heavy and fall over easily. Sizes 15-16 and 16-17 are best for garden planting.
• The large sizes, though, are eagerly sought for indoor forcing.

Where?

• Hyacinths are winter hardy and can be grown in USDA Zones 4-8.
• Hyacinths are easily grown in moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Best flowering occurs with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. In partial shade, they will do well the first year, but they will bloom less and less in the following years. Do not plant hyacinths in waterlogged soil (they are susceptible to rot) or in deep shade.
• Versatile, hyacinths are perfect for beds and borders, containers, or window boxes. Plant them close to paths, walkways, or doors so you can enjoy their heady perfume. For the best visual impact, plant your hyacinths in groups of 5-9 bulbs.

How?

• Dig over the soil to loosen it, and fork in 2-4 in. (5-10 cm) of organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.
• Plant your hyacinth bulbs with the top or pointy end up.
• Plant your hyacinth bulbs 4-6 in. deep (10-15 cm). Not planting bulbs deeply enough results in poor rooting. The bulbs will emerge unevenly and produce short spindly plants. Planting too deeply, however, can result in rotting as well as late emergence.
• Space your hyacinth bulbs about 5 to 6 in. apart (12-15 cm). In containers, place your bulbs 4 in. deep (10 cm) and about 3 in. (7 cm). Do not allow the bulbs to touch.
• Water immediately after planting. 
• Mulch around the plants to deter weeds and disease.

Several planting techniques can be used for flower bulbs.

• One is to lay out the bulbs evenly over the location being planted. It would be advisable to start by laying out the bulbs at the proper distance apart; this will prevent unwelcome surprises when you come to the end of the border. Before the bulbs are laid out, the soil should be thoroughly loosened to a depth of 10 inches (25 cm). Next, you can simply plant the bulbs and they can easily root.
• The easiest planting method uses a raised planting bed. After laying out the flower bulbs, cover them with a layer of soil about 4-6 inches (10 to 15 cm) thick. After planting, the planted area should be evenly raked and then possibly mulched with organic material 1-2 inches (2 to 5 cm) thick. This will keep the soil from drying out, freezing, or panning.
• If you want a more natural look, it would be best to scatter the bulbs and then plant them where they have fallen.
• Layered (lasagne) planting extends flowering by planting bulbs with successive flowering periods in layers. The flower bulbs that will bloom last are planted at the deepest level and the earliest to bloom in the spring will be planted closest to the surface. This method can be applied when planting directly in the soil or pots and containers.

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Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs Indoors

• Hyacinth bulbs may be forced for indoor display in the winter.
• Partially fill a container with a well-drained commercial potting mix. Almost any container can be used as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom.
• Plant the bulbs with their tops (noses) sticking above the potting soil.  Do not completely cover the bulbs.
• Water thoroughly. 
• Keep in a dark place at consistently cold temperatures, 40-45°F (4-7°C), for 8-16 weeks to allow roots to develop.
• Water the bulbs when the potting soil begins to dry out. 
• When the flower stem emerges, then increase light and temperature gradually.
• Keep the plants well-watered. Avoid wetting the shoots or waterlogging the soil. Turn the containers regularly to promote straight, upright growth.
•  For a succession of hyacinth bloom indoors, remove pots from storage every 2 weeks. 
• After flowering, forced hyacinths may be transplanted to the garden and they will flower again in subsequent years. However, most spring-flowering bulbs are usually weakened during the forcing procedure and do not always bloom well when planted outdoors.

Hyacinth Care

Watering

• Keep the soil moist during the growing season. Reduce watering once the leaves begin to wither and die off.

Feeding

• Perennial bulbs like those of hyacinths extract a lot of nutrients from the soil, so these bulbs will need supplementary fertilizing. During the growing season, inorganic fertilizers are the best choice since they contain the exact proportions and concentrations of nutrients. They also dissolve easily, so that plants can absorb them more efficiently.
• Inorganic fertilizers should be used only during the growing season; applied at other times, they will leach out of the soil and be wasted. Also, be careful not to apply too much inorganic fertilizer; excessively rapid growth results in weak plants that are then more vulnerable to diseases and pests. Applying too much fertilizer can also burn plants.
• Flower bulbs being used for perennial displays in borders will benefit from an application of fertilizer in late winter or early spring. 
• In containers, apply a liquid high-potassium feed from early spring until six weeks after flowering.

Staking

• The flower spikes are often so top-heavy that they flop over. Carefully insert a stick or small cane next into the soil by the bulb and use garden twine to secure the bloom.
• Tips to keep your hyacinths from flopping over:
  • Choose a location where your hyacinth gets at least 5 hours of light each day. In too much shade, the stems will be thin and the blooms will easily snap the stalk.
  • Plant hyacinth bulbs 4 inches (10 cm) deep. If the bulbs are not planted deep enough, the flower stem will not have enough strength to support the weight of the flowers when the hyacinth blooms. 
  • Maintain a temperature of around 46–65 °F (8–18 °C). Keep the temperature steady, as fluctuations can increase the risk of root rot.

After bloom care

• Remove the faded blooms after flowering. Cut off the flower stalk at the base.
• Fertilize around the plant.
• Do not remove the foliage until it withers and dies off. During this period, the hyacinth stores energy in the bulb for next year’s bloom. Cutting off the foliage before it has died back naturally may prevent the bulbs from storing enough energy. As a result, your hyacinths may not bloom next spring. 
• As the foliage begins to yellow stop watering containers.
• Hyacinth bulbs can remain in the ground throughout the year in most planting zones. If you live in a warm climate where temperatures do not get below 60°F (15°C), bulbs should be dug up in the fall and placed in a cool, dry area for at least 10 weeks. Hyacinths require a chilling period to bloom.

Propagating

Hyacinth cultivars can only be propagated by producing offsets (baby bulbs), scaling, chipping, or scooping.

Pest and Diseases

• Hyacinths are relatively trouble-free, but keep an eye out for slugs and squirrels, gray mold, and bulb rot when kept too wet.