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Forcing hyacinth in carafe glass

mchuamchua Posts: 210
in Plants
Hi, haven’t seen this happen before but it’s sending out a second shoot in the glass.  This pic was taken in the dark still, as it needs more time for the main shoot to get taller. 

Should I let it be, or try and lift the bulb to cut off the secondary shoot underneath?

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @mchua, I haven't seem that before either but presumably the underwater shoot will just snap off if you try to lift the bulb. I would be inclined not to try anyway and just see what happens.

    How long have you kept the bulb in the dark? It may well be telling you it needs more light and the root system looks pretty robust to me. You may find the main shoot grows quicker given more light and more warmth. Either way, it's not going to flower at Christmas if that was what you were hoping for. 

    Good luck anyway. It's fascinating watching them grow like that.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Songbird-2Songbird-2 Posts: 2,349
    Our hyacinth bulb did this. I took bulb out and snipped the side shoot off. Be it right or wrong, the  bulb continued to grow as normal with no problems. 
  • mchuamchua Posts: 210
    @Lizzie27 it’s been about 11 weeks so far.

    @Songbird-2 Ah ok, I’ll try that. Thank you. 

    It’s a yellow one this year for a change. Normally I go for delft blue or a pink one. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Alan Titchmarsh recommends 8-11 weeks for a cold period in the dark, then once shoots are 2-5-5cm bring hyacinths indoors for light and warmth. Keep them in a cool and lightly shaded place at 10-13c while leaves green up and flower buds develop. Then when flower buds show colour move bulbs into warmer, well-lit place to bloom, max 16-18c.
    These instructions are for potted bulbs but I assume they'd be okay for bulbs in glass vases? Anybody know differently?

    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • mchuamchua Posts: 210
    It has been quite a while yes. But I don’t want to bring it into light until the shoot is at least 4-5cm.  It’s only just appearing in the pic. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @mchua, I think it will shoot faster if it gets some warmth and light. They are quite fast to grow once they get going.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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