Back in February I had mentioned that I would update the results of my first ever attempt to force Forsythias, so I’ll start off with that to begin the March entries.
On February 24th, 2008, I decided to try my luck with “forcing” (meaning; to bring on an earlier than normal bloom by moving indoors) Forsythias. I had seen a program about forcing outdoor flowers back in January on HGTV and it piqued my interest.
Step 1: Cut about 3 to 5 branches 24” to 28”.
Step 2: Bring inside and cut the very bottoms again because just a few minutes of exposure to air can retard water flow in vase.
Step 3: Use a hammer to lightly bruise each branch from the bottom to about 3” up the branch. This will allow for more water to flow for a stronger bloom.
Step 4: Fill a vase with tepid water (cold water will make for a slower bloom) and add the prepared Forsythia branches.
Step 5: place vase in a sunny south or southwestern window. That’s it!
I noticed the buds bulging within 5 days. By March 5th (10 days) I had my first few yellow flowers! The photos below were taken on March 9th (14 days).
Even though the flowers are now spent, the small green leaves are a treat to view in late March. The branches are still alive & well in the two vases. This was a project that was simple to do and a great way to brighten the relentless, seemingly never-ending days of winter!
More information about Forsythias can be found here.
:)
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