Get a Preview of Spring by Forcing Blooms Indoors

By Amy

Tired of winter? Bring in cuttings from your favorite spring-blooming shrubs and trees and enjoy watching the flowers unfurl. Here’s how to get an exclusive preview of the coming season.

(Prefer to read? Scroll down for the “how to” and list of plants you can try.)

Just a few days ago, these beautiful forsythia blooms were empty sticks. I want to share how you can get as early “exclusive preview” of spring by bringing stems from your spring-blooming shrubs inside.

This is called “forcing” spring blooms. First, we’ll go through the steps. Then, I’ll share a list of plants that should work for you. Finally, you can go explore in your yard (or maybe your neighborhood!) and find stems that you can bring inside to add color to your kitchen table a bit early this year.

  1. Gather some simple materials. You’ll need clean, sharp bypass pruners and a container of warm water. You could bring your vase outside, or you can just use a bucket and then move them into the vase once you’re inside.
  2. Prune off branches 1-3 feet long. You can prune stems that are hanging over paths or crossing each other (these would normally be pruned anyway) or select a few with lots of swelling buds. Flower buds are usually a bit larger than leaf buds. Cut at an angle at a main branch or just above a bud so that plant can continue growing in a natural way. No weird little stubs!
  3. Remove the lower buds and leaves. Anything that’s under the surface of the water in the vase will end up rotting, and your arrangement won’t last as long. Drop your stems into water as soon as you can.
  4. Inside, trim the branches as needed and arrange in your vase. Place in a cool spot away from direct sunlight. Forced heat or a hot, sunny window will cause the buds to dry out before they have a chance to open. If you’re trying to force something extra early, try wrapping the stems in damp newspaper or cloth to keep the moisture levels up.

In this case, the forsythia is almost ready to bloom, and I was able to just set the vase on our kitchen table out of direct sunlight. Within a few days I had yellow golden bells, as my grandma used to call them, opening and brightening that space.

What kind of flowers can be forced indoors?

Consider woody shrubs and trees that bloom in spring. Here’s a list of spring bloomers to try:

  • Witch Hazel
  • Pussy Willow
  • Winter Jasmine
  • Forsythia
  • Quince
  • Redbud
  • Silverbells
  • Dogwood
  • Magnolia
  • Apple
  • Crabapple
  • Pear
  • Cherry
  • Serviceberry
  • Azalea
  • Mock Orange
  • Lilac
  • Spirea

These are all examples of some of the plants. You can try this with bringing them inside and forcing those early blooms to brighten your kitchen counter.

Your Turn

In the comments below, let me know what you love about spring. Have you tried this with any plants from your yard?

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