| I got a hyacinth for a gift. It bloomed and then the flowers shriveled up. Someone told me to cut it down to get it to bloom again. Is this true? |
| The hyacinth you got was forced to bloom out of season so it's not a good candidate for keeping. The plant has used up all of it's energy and will not bloom again. You'll just have to consider it a seasonal plant - and the season's over, so it's time to toss it. If you want to force your own hyacinths into bloom next winter, purchase bulbs in the fall, pot them up and put them in a cool (40F), dark place (such as an unheated basement or your fridge) for 10-12 weeks until roots form. When the bulbs begin to sprout, water them and place them in bright, indirect light for a couple of weeks. After this transition period, you can put them in more direct sun. If you give them too much light too soon, they'll bloom on stubby stalks. If the temperature is over 65F, the blossom stalk can get long and floppy. You can watch the lovely flower stalk grow and bloom, just about Christmas time. |
