posted
hi....i just can't wait till spring and would like to force some forsythia in my house. any ideas on how to do this would be greatly appreciated. i also read (somewhere) that you could successfully force lilacs. my question to that is would just the foliage sprout or would a lilac bloom as well? thank you, Linda
Plants: 416 | From: midlothian, illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 209.240.205.61
posted
yep.Its easy. you take you some cuts.take more than you actually want cause some may not be ready yet. you pick your cuts when temps have been above freezeing a few days,look on the branches and see if buds are formed*plump. Carefully split the bottom cuts that will go in the water 1-4 inches,this helps absorb water.If they don't absorb water well they wont bloom.have sink filled with clean warm water cut half inch off bottom(so air don't get in cut underwater)placeing in glass.you lay glass in water let fill have cutting in water whole time into glass.wipe your glass off. Remove any stems buds twigs that will be underwater in glass.place in warm room(60-70) change water every few days.
It can take up to 8 weeks for them to bloom,the closer they are to normal bloom time the earlier they are to bloom.
Well.I was TYPEING and post SENT ITSELF!
List of branches for force blooming: Red bud dogwood Quince Which hazel Hawthorn Honey suckle Magnolia Crab apple peach pear cherry Almond Pussy willow Viburnuim Liliac
I've root pruned honeysuckle and watered with warm water and had the bloom.It was kewl
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
thanks njoynit.....the last part where you said remove any stems twigs buds from water....i'm sorry, but could you elaborate for me, i'm a little slow. also, the cut i make to let them absorb water, is this also done underwater? do you mean a cut like a slice about 4" up the branch? thanks for your patience!! Linda p.s. will the lilac force a bloom? that would be awsome!!!
Plants: 416 | From: midlothian, illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 209.240.205.61
posted
I grew up with a forsynthia bush in yard at back corner and beside house...use to play under um too(and blow smoke outta hollow stems..teenagers )
We sprouted some in class in 5th grade.Mrs redford had us slpit um that far so would absorb plenty of water,some of the ones cut 1-2 inches didn't do as well. we cut the bottom half inch off under water(it keeps air from entering so will draw up water) we only cut the bottom half off under water and had glass in sink and filled and just uprighted. you clean yuor stem off thats under the water so the stuff don't turn your water icky.when we changed water we dumped half and added fresh.
sometimes when cutting tips the stems branch out,you want the side branches removed. also can purchase stems from florist& those may be hothouse grown and already in bloom of fixing to bloom. The florist(if is good)will know about the bloom.Don't know if southern florists would carry,but know northern ones do.
I think will do my red bud tree& an apple branch off limb removeing anyway from tree(that way i'll feel more guilty when cut it off)
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
aren't memories great!! thanks again, it snowed today so i'm gonna have to wait till temp. rises a bit. this all sounds fairly easy and will let you know how it goes. i enjoyed looking at your photo album!!! thanks again! Linda
Plants: 416 | From: midlothian, illinois | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 209.240.205.61
posted
Hi Linda, I have heard too, you can put twigs or some things that you want to grow roots on is to put them into water with a piece of willow tree *and or pussy willow*..
Something in the twig of the willow that is released into the water that promotes the other twig to root...
Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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It can take up to 8 weeks for them to bloom,the closer they are to normal bloom time the earlier they are to bloom.![[critic]](graemlins/critic.gif)
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