If you want to grow hyacinths at home, you’ll need to create conditions similar to their natural habitat. Indoor hyacinths prefer cool, moist soil in winter (perhaps on a balcony or loggia), warmth and rest in summer, and a natural transition between seasons.
Hyacinth: Planting and Care
Hyacinth bulbs should be planted at the same time as daffodils, in August-September, to a depth of 15-20 cm. The distance between plants should be 15 cm. For better flowering and larger inflorescences, you can add a little fertilizer to each hole. Hyacinths prefer open, sunny or partially shaded locations protected from the wind and light, structured soils consisting of a mixture of sand and humus, with good water permeability. After the hyacinth has finished flowering, cut the flower stalk as high as possible and let the leaves yellow and die off naturally so that nutrients can return to the plant’s bulb. Mulch the soil directly over the wilted foliage of spring bulbs with fresh compost. This accomplishes three tasks at once: protecting and fertilizing the bulbs of early-flowering plants, as well as improving the appearance of the flower bed. Good care is important to prevent hyacinth diseases.
Hyacinth Propagation
Hyacinths are propagated by small bulbs (babies) that form on the adult plant’s bulb, an average of 3-4 per year. The baby bulb is carefully separated from the mother bulb during the summer dormancy period (if it separates easily) and planted in the ground earlier than adult bulbs, at the end of summer. These bulbs will grow and bloom in 2-3 years. Seed propagation of hyacinths is practiced in selection, but is not effective in amateur gardening: the offspring will differ from the parents and will only bloom in 5-6 years.
Storing Hyacinth Bulbs
In regions with cold, wet summers, it is recommended to dig up hyacinth bulbs in the first half of summer and store them in a warm (+20-22 degrees Celsius), well-ventilated, and not too dry place until planting time. During the storage of hyacinth bulbs, check them and remove any defective specimens at the first signs of rot. In warmer and drier regions, hyacinth bulbs can be left in the ground for the summer, but they should be dug up every few years for division and replanting.
Hyacinth in Landscape Design
Hyacinth is a traditional favorite in formal gardens, where the plant is planted on raised symmetrical flower beds in an interesting pattern. Less pompous, but more elegant, hyacinths look in natural gardens, scattered in picturesque mono- or multi-colored groups near trees and shrubs or along a garden path. Hyacinths are great for growing in pots and containers, which can be placed closer to the front door or brought indoors during flowering to fully appreciate the beauty and intoxicating aroma of hyacinth flowers. As with other spring bulbs, don’t forget that at the beginning of summer, the hyacinth foliage will disappear, leaving unsightly bare spots in the flower bed. Therefore, you should think in advance about the joint planting of hyacinths (for example, with annual plants if the hyacinth bulbs will be dug up for the summer) or plant hyacinths next to beautiful perennials, whose lush greenery will mask the resulting gaps in summer.