Hyacinth care: pour, cut and overwinter

With good care, the colorful hyacinths show their blooms every year. We give tips on the most important care measures for hyacinths.

hyacinths (Hyacinthus) are basically easy-care bulbous plants that require little attention. We explain what you should consider when caring for the hyacinth, watering and fertilizing, cutting and wintering.

Water hyacinth

Hyacinths require little water and do not tolerate waterlogging at their roots. They are adapted to warm, dry areas and use their bulbs as a storage organ for water and nutrients. For this reason, it should only be watered sparingly, if at all. Potted hyacinths can suffer from prolonged heat and drought in the summer, even after the leaves have been drawn in. In such extreme cases, they should also be given small amounts of water in order to get through the hot season well. Before wintering, it should not be watered at all.

Fertilize hyacinths

The long-lived bulbous plants can stay in the same spot in the garden for many years. Even large planters often accommodate the pretty early bloomers for a long time. In the year after repotting, the hyacinths feed on the nutrients in the fresh potting soil. Fertilization is recommended in order to maintain flowering in the garden and pot in the years that follow. Mainly organic long-term fertilizers, like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer, are particularly suitable for the long-term supply of nutrients to hyacinths. In March, when the leaves begin to sprout and before flowering, the granulate is distributed loosely around the plants and, if possible, worked into the surface. In this way, the bulb of the hyacinth can absorb and store nutrients for months before the leaves are drawn in. After the hyacinth has bloomed, however, you should not fertilize it, because the plant then hardly absorbs any more nutrients.

Cut hyacinth

Hyacinths are well suited as cut flowers; the magnificent blossom is cut off at the bottom with a sharp knife. With faded hyacinths, remove the flowers along with the stem to avoid wasting energy on seed formation. Be careful not to damage the leaves when pruning the hyacinth. After flowering, hyacinths begin to transfer all the nutrients and water contained in the leaves to the bulb until summer. The leaf yellows and dries up by itself. If necessary, you can pluck or cut back these completely dry leaves to beautify the appearance of the bulbous plant. However, the cutting measure is not absolutely necessary.

Overwinter hyacinth

When retracted as bulbs, hyacinths are hardy to -15 °C. However, late frosts in spring can damage the young shoots. On cold nights, carefully cover the hyacinths with some brushwood, coniferous twigs or jute to protect the sensitive blossom in particular. Potted hyacinths can hibernate outdoors if the planter is protected from freezing with jute, fleece or similar materials. If the plants are already sprouting fresh green and there are signs of frost again, it is better to bring the hyacinth indoors.

If you keep the hyacinth indoors as a potted plant, it should be in a cool, sheltered place over the winter. A good place for the hyacinth bulb, also to stimulate flowering, is the refrigerator. Make sure that the onions are not too moist and start to rot. After about eight weeks, the hyacinth can be placed in a bright and cool place. After a little watering, it begins root growth and shoot formation. After about a week you can bring the hyacinth into the warm living room.

The colorful tulip (Tulipa) is another popular early bloomer. We give tips on planting and caring for the bulbous plant.