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Prepared hyacinths are specially heat-treated bulbs that can be “forced” to flower early indoors. With the right timing and a little cool treatment, you can enjoy their rich scent and jewel-like blooms just in time for Christmas.

Timeline for Christmas Blooms

• Late September – Early October: Plant bulbs.
• 10–12 weeks cool period: Bulbs need dark, cold storage to develop roots and flower shoots.
• Mid-December: Bring bulbs into the warmth and light to bloom.
• Christmas week: Flowers open, filling your home with fragrance.

What You’ll Need

• Prepared hyacinth bulbs
• Pots or bulb glasses (hyacinth vases)
• Free-draining compost or bulb fibre (for pots)
• A cool, dark place (5–9°C ), such as an unheated garage, cellar, shed, or fridge (not with fruit!)
• Labels and a diary reminder

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Planting (Late September – Early October)

• In pots:
• Use  free-draining compost.
• Place bulbs close but not touching.
• Leave the tip just above the soil surface.
• In hyacinth glasses:
• Fill the glass with water to just below (not touching) the bulb’s base.
• Place bulb in the neck of the vase.

2. The Cool Period (10–12 weeks)

• Bulbs need 10–12 weeks of cold and darkness to grow roots and prepare flower spikes.
• Ideal temperature: 5–9°C.
• Tricks:
• Cover pots with black plastic bags or newspaper to exclude light.
• Check regularly for water (keep soil damp, not wet).
• Don’t let water touch the bulb base in glasses — roots only!

3. Checking Readiness

• After 10 weeks, look for:
• Strong root growth.
• A firm green shoot about 4–5 cm tall.
• If not ready, leave them a week longer in the cool.

4. Forcing Indoors (Mid-December)

• Move pots/vases to a bright but cool room (about 15°C).
• Gradually increase warmth and light.
• Avoid direct heat (like radiators), which shortens bloom time. The cooler the room the longer the flowers last .

5. Christmas Fragrance (Late December)

• Flowers should open just in time for Christmas week.
• To extend flowering, move pots to a slightly cooler room overnight.

Extra Tips

• Succession forcing: Plant batches of bulbs at 1–2 week intervals to spread blooms across December–January.
• Controlling timing:
• Too early? Keep them cooler for longer.
• Too late? Bring them into warmth a week earlier.
• After flowering: Bulbs are often exhausted from forcing; plant them outdoors in spring borders rather than reusing indoors.