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What To Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Blooming?

Once all the scented flowers are long wilted, you may be wondering what to do with Hyacinth bulbs after blooming. Let’s have a look at the best things you can do with your spent plants.

What To Do With Forced Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering?

what to do with forced hyacinth bulbs after flowering

Once the bulbs have produced their signature blooms and the flowers have faded, remove the flower spikes.

Over time you should allow the leaves to die back naturally, and once they have all gone you will know it is time to lift the bulbs.

Dig them up gently and lay them out ion newspaper to dry. During this time you can check for damaged or diseased bulbs, and discard them.

Store the bulbs in a mesh sack or paper bag, in a cool, dry and dark spot until it is time to replant them.

You should always plant your hyacinth bulbs in the Autumn, and remember that forced bulbs cannot be forced again, so they will have to go outdoors.

Your forced bulbs will flourish and thrive in the garden, as long as you follow the general rules for planting hyacinth:

  • Full sun
  • Compost in the soil before you plant
  • Don’t over water
  • Occasional feeding

How To Store Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering?

When you have lifted your bulbs, you will need to store them correctly so that they can be replanted later in the year.

  • Once you have lifted your bulbs, lay them out flat on some newspaper (not touching) for three days, so that they dry.
  • The area should be cool and dark, so as to trick the bulbs into thinking it is winter!
  • After three days, place the bulbs into a breathable mesh bag, and store it in a cool dark place.
  • You can then either plant your bulbs outdoors in the autumn, or bring them indoors for forced growth in the winter.

This is a great article if you want to find out more about how to cure and store your hyacinth bulbs for the best results.

Can You Leave Hyacinth Bulbs In Pots?

can you leave hyacinth bulbs in pots

Generally, it is recommended to lift your hyacinth bulbs and store them well, so that they can be replanted outdoors for the following season.

However, if you have them planted in good well draining soil, they may be able to stay in their pots and bloom again the following year.

  1. If your hyacinth bulbs have been forced, you will have to plant them out, as a forced bulb will only flower indoors once.
  2. Growing these pretty plants in pots is a great idea, because you can move them from place to place.
  3. Generally, if they are in pots they are indoors, to release their famous fragrance. However, you can also grow hyacinths in pots outdoors, if you don’t have a lot of garden space.
  4. If your pots are outdoors, treat the hyacinths as you would if they were growing in the ground:
  5. Give them a full sun position, or at least the sunniest spot in the garden.
  6. Use quality compost and allow good drainage.
  7. Don’t over water, as this can cause the roots to rot.
  8. Remove the flower stems after they have finished blooming, to prevent seeds forming.
  9. Leave the foliage on the plant until it dies naturally; this gives the plant enough energy to bloom the following year.

This is a great, informative video that shows you how to care for your hyacinth after flowering, as well as how to replant them:

How Often Do Hyacinth Bloom?

Hyacinth only bloom once a year, but they have a relatively long flowering season, so it may seem as though they flower often!

Hyacinth will bloom the following year too, as long as they are planted in the garden and haven’t been “forced”.

A forced hyacinth will bloom once indoors, but it will not tolerate being forced again, so it should be planted in the garden and allowed to live out its days there.

Hyacinth will bloom in the mid to late spring, around the same time as daffodils do. You can force them to flower at different times indoors, however.

It takes about 3 weeks from when the leaves first appear to when the flowers emerge, so keep an eye out when you spot the first leaves.

Each bulb will generally produce one stalk of flowers, and occasionally a second or third stem with smaller flowers.

How Long Do Indoor Hyacinths Last?

Hyacinth flowers have a fairly long period when they can be enjoyed; you can keep them going for as long as 8 to 12 weeks!

Even before the flowers come out, a hyacinth is an elegant plant which looks lovely growing in any room.

Flowers will start to emerge a few weeks after the foliage does, so you will have a few weeks of those pretty green leaves before the main event occurs!

The flowering period can go on for a couple of weeks, during which time every floret on the flowering stem will open and release its lovely fragrance.

The stems may start to droop, especially if they are heavy with flowers – you can use a small stick to prop them up, or cut them and use as a vase flower.

After the flowers have disappeared and the leaves start to yellow and die, this is a sign that your hyacinth is done.

It should now be planted outdoors, so it can come up naturally the following year and fill your garden with beauty and smell!

Each bulb is generally good for around 3-4 years, but don’t worry that you will run out of beautiful flowers – the bulbs will reproduce by sending out little shoots that grow into new bulbs.

Final Words

Hyacinth are great, because they can flower again and again in following years, so you don’t have to discard your bulbs just because the flowers are over! Keep them, plant them, and enjoy them for years to come.

8 thoughts on “What To Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Blooming?”

  1. Thank you for you very helpful information.
    I just got 3 pots with 4 in each ver beautiful a ones purple and oe pink. Smells so lovely. Thank you again.

    Reply
  2. Oh my GOSH, THANK YOU!!! I bought some potted hyacinths “pre-bloom” and wanted to transplant them into the ground before they bloomed. However, time got away and they bloomed in the pot! I only have minimal, sunrise light (indoors) and so I was so happy! They smelled incredible and they lasted for a few weeks or more! They were so full and heavy with blooms that the flowering stems fell down and I staked them up with petite paint brushes! Ha! Just like you suggested! My excitement, giddiness and CONFIDENCE is a direct result of/from YOU sharing of your experience(s) with us. Again, thank you! I am now going to plant these indoor, potted hyacinth bulbs that are dying off. I will leave all the foliage so that the bulb can get all its nutrients and treat them with some nice compost and gentle fertilizer. Hopefully they will come back next spring, just as stunning as ever! ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Hi Amber, so happy to hear that you were inspired! I’m sure your hyacinths will come back in full force next spring – keep me posted!

      Reply

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