Does the messy feel of soil put you off growing blooms from bulb in your home? Did you know that you can grow your hyacinth bulbs in water and get amazing, colorful blooms, that you don’t find pets or kids digging in. Hyacinths are known for their beautiful blooms and delightful fragrance and they are great winter indoor flowers. Even as a beginner, without any prior gardening experience, you can learn how to grow hyacinths indoors in water in just a few easy steps.
With the right bulbs, containers, and a little patience, you’ll have vibrant, fragrant hyacinths gracing your home in just a few weeks. The trick that horticulture experts use is to force the bulbs, through a process of making the bulb believe it is winter and then spring in order to get it to grow. We’re going to explore all the steps you need to take to grow your hyacinth bulb in water indoors this winter. If you want to skip to a section, just click on one of the links below.
Why Grow Hyacinths Indoors in Water?
Not only is growing hyacinths in water super easy, but it’s also ideal for small spaces. If you’re living in an apartment without a lot of natural light, or even just a small home, an indoor hyacinth setup can fit in without taking up much room. The vibrant colors and fragrance can really liven up a space, especially in winter when everything feels so grey and bleak. Greeting that spring pop of color and fragrance every morning is an instant mood boost.
Growing plants indoors like hyacinths can actually help with your indoor air quality. While hyacinths aren’t the most purifying plant out there, they still contribute to cleaner air by reducing minor toxins. It’s nice to know this little plant does something good in your home, even if it is small. It’s also such a beautiful flower, and has a luxury look that adds a touch of class and sophistication to your home decor.
The main benefits of learning how to grow a hyacinth indoors in water are minimal mess, easy care, and an instant way to upgrade your living space. They provide a really interesting addition to your decor as you can see the roots of the bulb in the water. Indoor hyacinth gardening might just become your new favorite thing.
Choosing the Right Hyacinth Bulbs for Indoor Water Growth
Now, let’s talk about picking the right bulbs because this part tends to make or break your success when forcing bulbs. If you want those blooms to thrive indoors, you need pre-chilled bulbs. These are bulbs that have been tricked into thinking they’ve already gone through winter, so they’re ready to bloom as soon as you set them up. They should have been chilled at a temperature of around 40-45F (4-7C) for 14 weeks before you attempt to force them, so always check this has happened before buying your bulbs.
For indoor water growing, some varieties work better than others. Look for hyacinth varieties like ‘Delft Blue’ or ‘Jan Bos’ if you want that classic, full bloom and intense fragrance. You can find these bulbs in garden centers or online.
Storing your bulbs before planting is key too. Keep them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to set them up in water. Too much warmth, and they might start sprouting early or get mould. A dark, chilly spot in your fridge usually does the trick. Just make sure they’re away from any fruits. Apples and pears, in particular, release ethylene gas as they ripen that can actually mess with the bulbs’ blooming cycle.
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Hyacinths Indoors in Water
Growing hyacinths in water is all about setting them, and you, up for success, and taking a step-by-step approach.
What you need to grow hyacinths indoor in water
You only need a handful of essential items:
- vase with a narrow neck or a jar
- hyacinth bulb
- room temperature water
Step 1: Getting the right container
First off, choose a container that’s tall enough to support the bulb but also narrow enough that it’ll hold it upright. Hyacinth vases are perfect for this, but any glass jar will do as long as it holds the bulb up. The key is to make sure it has a narrow neck that is slightly fluted and can support the base of the bulb to prevent it from toppling over. The neck also needs to hold the bulb high enough that it is not toughing the water.
Step 2: Placing your bulb
Once you’ve got your container, place the bulb in it so that the base just barely touches the water. Too much water, and you risk the bulb rotting. It is the roots that need water, not the bulb itself. The base of the bulb needs to face down, the top where it will sprout facing upwards.
Step 3: Find a dark cool place
Then, set your container in a cool, dark place to let the roots establish. Find somewhere with temperatures no higher than 50F (10C) and leave for around 4-6 weeks. Keep checking on your bulb to make sure it doesn’t need a top up of water. You’ll know it’s ready to move when you see a nice web of roots forming at the bottom.
Step 4: Bring your plant out
Once you’ve got some solid root growth, and your shoot has about 7cm of growth, bring the bulb into the light, but don’t blast it with full sun just yet. A windowsill with indirect sunlight is ideal. Over time, as the sprout begins to grow, you can gradually move it into brighter light. Watching that little green sprout turn into a full bloom is quite exciting.
How to Give your Indoor Hyacinth the Best Care
Keeping the water clean is crucial. Change the water every few days to prevent any funky smells or algae from forming. You’d be surprised how quickly stale water can sabotage your plant. Fresh water every three to four days keeps everything looking fresh and helps avoid mould from forming on the bulb.
Hyacinths love moderate temperatures, so aim for around 60-70°F (15-21C) if possible. Too hot, and they might droop; too cold, and growth slows down. Hyacinths tend to react quite quickly to temperature changes so aim to keep it in a place where the temperature is consistent.
Be sure to rotate your hyacinth a little every day to prevent the plant stretching and growing lop sided in attempts to reach the sun.
If your hyacinth bloom starts looking sad or droopy, don’t panic. Often, it’s just the flower’s way of saying it’s done blooming. To extend bloom time, you can try moving the plant to a slightly cooler spot, which slows down the growth process and helps the flowers last longer.
How to Extend the Blooming Season
If you want your hyacinth in water to bloom and grow all winter long indoors, you need to learn how to extend the season. One trick is to stagger your bulb setup. Every few weeks, start a new bulb, so you have a continuous cycle of blooms. Rotating bulbs this way means you always have a fresh and colorful hyacinth to display.
For an added boost, consider using a small amount of liquid plant food. Some people swear by it but you only need the smallest drop as too much can overwhelm the roots. And if you want to keep things natural, you could add a few drops of organic fertilizer to the water instead.
If you’re up for a bit of a challenge, you can even try transferring the bulb to soil after it’s done blooming in water. While it’s not always successful, some hyacinths do adapt to the transition. It’s kind of hit or miss, but worth a shot if you want to give your plant a chance at a second life.
Creative Display Ideas for Indoor Hyacinths
A clear glass container is classic and lets you see those gorgeous roots, but you can get creative with colored jars, mason jars, or even vintage glassware if you’re feeling like creating a fancy display to showcase your indoor gardening skills.
For a festive touch, try incorporating your hyacinths into seasonal decor. Around the holidays, add some small ornaments or pinecones at the base. In spring, a few decorative stones or a sprig of fresh moss can make a beautiful statement. Clustering a few hyacinths together for a fuller look creates a gorgeous centerpiece for a mantle or even dining table.
Conclusion
When you learn how to grow a hyacinth indoors in water you get such a great sense of satisfaction. It’s low-effort, mess-free, and brings so much color and fragrance to your home, you’ll wonder why you never tried it sooner. Plus, it’s pretty magical to watch a flower bloom without any soil. So, whether you’re new to indoor gardening or just looking to try something fresh, grab some bulbs, set up your containers, and give it a go. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create your own little burst of spring right in your home.
