Can Hyacinths Be Indoor Plants?

Planting the Bulbs

• Hyacinth bulbs are planted in a plastic or clay sterilized container. Use a medium of one-part sand, two-parts peat moss and three-parts loam. Fill the container up to within 1/4 inch from the edge of the container. Plant the bulbs so that the point is upright sticking out of the medium enough to see the tip. You can fit three bulbs into a 6-inch container. Do not pat the soil down. The soil should be loose around the bulb. Water the medium so it is moist. Keep the medium moist and don't allow it to dry out.

Cooling the Bulbs

• Place the bulbs in a location with temperatures between 35 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 weeks. A cold basement or a refrigerator vegetable drawer will provide the necessary coolness. If you place the container bulbs in your refrigerator, place a paper bag over the container and seal it. Poke five to six holes in the bag so the bulbs can breathe.

Forcing the Bulbs

• Force the bulbs to flower indoors by removing the containers from the cooling area the first week after Christmas. Place the containers in a sunny location where temperatures will be between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit for about one week. The bulbs will start to sprout shoots. When you see the shoots, move the container to a location in the house where temperatures are 68 to 70 F with indirect sunlight.

Prolong Flowering

• Once the hyacinth bulbs bloom, move the containers to a cooler location at night and move them back to the daytime location in the morning to prolong flowering. Keep the soil moist at this time, but not soggy.