Hyacinths as Christmas Decoration

They're perfect as a gift or for your own windowsill: hyacinths at Christmas are a decorative classic.

The blossoms of hyacinths are strikingly beautiful and emit a delicate fragrance, making them perfect houseplants. You can time these spring bloomers to flower perfectly for the Christmas season, decorating your home with their elegant white or festive red flowerheads.

For hyacinths to bloom by Christmas, they need a chilling period of about three months beforehand. So, start forcing your hyacinths as early as September. Professional sellers store the bulbs in a cold room that imitates the winter cold impulse. This activates the flower bulb, causing it to sprout. Hyacinths treated this way are labeled "suitable for forcing."

You can also replicate this process yourself with untreated bulbs. It's important to start early enough so that the flower bulbs can be brought out by early December. Only by observing the natural developmental phases of the flower will you be rewarded with blooms on time.

For cultivating hyacinths, you can either plant the bulbs in a hyacinth glass filled with water or directly into soil, making sure only the tip is visible. If you opt for the classic method in a hyacinth glass, place the bulb so it sits on the surface but doesn't sink.

For two to three months, the bulb should be kept in a cool and dark place. A "hat" made of aluminum foil or shiny paper will protect it from light. As soon as the first roots form, adjust the water level. Now, only the roots should be submerged, and the bulb itself should no longer touch the water. Only after buds have formed, in December, should the pots be brought into a bright and warm room. The flowers will then develop.

If you chose pre-chilled hyacinth bulbs, you can skip the cold phase. You'll force these hyacinths in a warm and dark environment. However, you should still use the "hat" in this case. The darkness promotes root growth, allowing the bulb to develop quickly.

It's a bit tricky, but you can also make your own popular wax-dipped flower bulbs! They don't just look appealing; they're also especially practical. You don't need to water or fertilize wax-dipped flower bulbs because all the nutrients are in the bulb itself.

Before you start waxing, the flower bulb must first be freed of soil. It should have sprouted as little as possible. Then, place the bulb in water for a while. During this time, it will soak up water, which will be its reserve for its time in the wax coat.

Now, it's time to melt the wax. Perhaps you have some leftover candles from last Christmas? You can repurpose them! The wax must not be too hot, otherwise, it will harm the bulb. So, do not boil it. Dip the flower bulb into the liquid wax repeatedly until a solid coat has formed. Then you'll have an unusual table decoration for the holidays!