In winter, when it's so cold outside, especially you want the house to smell of spring. And to achieve this quite simply - it is only to settle on the windowsill hyacinth. This bright and very fragrant plant is also remarkable because its flowering can be predicted at any desired date. On the cultivation of hyacinths at home and will be discussed in our article.
How to grow hyacinths at home?
Many of us are not sure whether it is possible to keep hyacinths at home? Of course you can - this is originally a wild plant grows well not only in the garden, but also on the windowsill, you only need to create the hyacinth necessary cultivation conditions and strictly implement all the techniques of farming.
Stage 1 - seed selection
To grow a handsome hyacinth at home, the first thing you need is a strong healthy bulb, at least 5 cm in circumference. It is this seed that is needed to get a strong plant with a strong stalk. It is best to buy hyacinth bulbs in proven flower shops, where they are surely stored in the right conditions.
Stage 2 - planting the hyacinth
Grow hyacinth at home can be as in a conventional pot, and in water. In the first case, a small pot (diameter 10-12 cm) will be needed for the hyacinth. You can also plant several bulbs in one container so that the distance between them is not less than 3 cm. Do not allow the bulbs to touch the pot walls. At the bottom of the pot laid a thick layer of drainage, then pour a layer of soil mixture. Soil mixture for the cultivation of hyacinth can be used any, most importantly, that its acidity is not too high. On top of the soil mixture spread a layer of sand, then set the bulb and lightly push it into the pot. As a result, the bulb should be at least 1/3 higher than the soil layer.
In the case of aquatic growth, the hyacinth is placed in a narrow container with a nutrient solution (water + fertilizer ) so that it touches the liquid only with the bottom.
Stage 3 - outbreak of the hyacinth
Whichever method of hyacinth cultivation has been chosen, it must go through a stage of development, like a resting period, when a bulb planted in soil or water is sent to a dark and cold room (+ 5 ... + 7 ° C) where it will slowly germinate for 2-2,5 months. Only after the leaflets are inserted from the bulb, it is transferred to a room with a higher temperature (+10 .. +15 ° C). If you do not wait for the appearance of the leaves and put the bulb in the heat earlier, and even put it under good lighting, blooms from the hyacinth can not wait at all.
Step 4 - Care
Now let us dwell in more detail on how to care for hyacinth at home during growth. After the pot with the turned onion was removed from the cold, it is moved to a light and warm (+ 15 ° C) room. In these conditions, the hyacinth will remain until the moment when it shoots the arrow with the buds. After the emergence of long-awaited buds, hyacinth can be sent to the place chosen for it - a window sill or table, away from drafts and heat from heating devices.
Stage 5 - care for faded hyacinth
After the flowering of the hyacinth, the flower stalk must be carefully cut off and continue to care for the plant until the leaves wither. Although the pasted bulb is not able to bloom a second time, but it can be used for reproduction. To do this, the onion is carefully removed from the pot so as to be planted in autumn in an open ground. There she freely will give offspring.