Popular in holiday arrangements, especially around Easter, they bloom for several weeks during March and April.
You don’t have to discard potted plants after flowers fade.
With the right care, these perennial bulbs put out spring flowers for three to five years or longer.
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Here’s how to get the most out of your hyacinths.
They prefer cool temperatures and perform best where winter temperatures remain in the 30F range for extended periods.
After blooms fade, remove flowering stems but continue watering until foliage dies back naturally.
Feed with a balanced fertilizer in early autumn and stop watering after leaves dry up.
In zones 3 and lower, apply heavy mulch to protect bulbs from extreme winter temperatures.
In zones 9 and higher, you’ll need to dig bulbs after the foliage dies back.
Shake off excess soil and lay them out on paper in a cool, dark location for three days.
Store them in mesh bags around 40F for 12 to 14 weeks.
Replant in autumn, six to eight weeks before the first frost, to bloom again the following spring.
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How long do hyacinths last in the garden?
Keep containers in a sunny location and continue watering to keep soil evenly moist.
When leaves start to yellow, fertilize with a balanced liquid fertilizer and start to reduce watering.
Once foliage withers stop watering completely.
Move containers to a cool, dark location with temperatures no greater than 40F.
Return container hyacinths outdoors when temperatures warm up in March and early April.
As new growth appears, increase the amount of sun exposure and resume a regular watering and fertilizing schedule.
Avoid overwatering container grown hyacinths
Hyacinth bulbs easily rot in waterlogged soil.
Use containers with drainage holes and quality potting soil.
During the growing season, water when the top inch of soil is dry.
What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering Indoors
Hyacinths kept indoorsare unlikely to rebloom.
Forced bulbs are less likely to thrive and should be discarded and replaced with fresh ones.
To save indoor bulbs for outdoor planting, remove faded flowers and stems.
Keep pots in a sunny location and continue watering until the foliage begins to yellow and die back.
Stop watering and wait for the soil to dry before removing bulbs.
Brush off excess soil and lay bulbs in a cool, dark location for three days on brown paper.
After curing, store them in a mesh bag in a cool, dark location around 40F.
Plant your stored hyacinth bulbs in the garden six to eight weeks before the first frost.
When to plant hyacinth bulbs in warm climates.
Leaves continue to absorb sunlight to energize the bulb for next year’s bloom.
If using a granular fertilizer water well after utility.
Hyacinth bulbs are perennials hardy in zones 4 to 8 that overwinter in the ground.
In zones 9 and higher, they must be dug, cold stratified, and replanted in early winter.
In zones 3 and lower heavy mulch can sometimes protect bulbs from rot.
You want to cure hyacinth bulbs before storage but three days is usually sufficient.
Exposed them too long causes them to shrivel and lose energy.
Not curing long enough or storing improperly encourages mold.
