Bring colorful blooms indoors

For winter color, you can force branches of forsythia to bloom indoors. Darrell Blackwelder, for the Salisbury Post.

A pussywillow in bloom.

A pussywillow plant.

By Darrell Blackwelder

For the Salisbury Post

Recent wet snows and falling rain make us all yearn for spring's arrival. Cabin fever is taking its toll and many are yearning to get outdoors.

Rowan residents can have a bit of spring with a spectacular vase of blooming forsythia branches. Gathering branches of forsythia and other deciduous shrubs and trees is an easy taste of spring indoors.February is a good month to force forsythia blooms. Forsythia is the one of the easiest shrubs to force, although other trees and shrubs may be forced to bloom indoors. Redbud, flowering quince, flowering dogwood, witch hazel, Hawthorn honeysuckle, saucer magnolia, star magnolia, crabapple flowering almond, cherry and plum, pussy willow, spirea and viburnum are just a few species that can be forced.

It's best to wait until early March to gather branches of difficult-to-force ornamentals, such as crabapple, magnolia and redbud.

When gathering plant material, select branches that are at least 12 inches long with numerous large, plump buds. Flower buds are usually larger and rounder than leaf buds. Gather more branches than you expect to use because some may not absorb the water allowing the shrub to bloom.

Be sure to use sharp pruners or a knife when making the cuts. Split the cut ends 1-4 inches for maximum water absorption. Place cut branches in a container of warm water and then after a few hours, re-cut 1 inch from the base of the stem. Cutting underwater prevents air from entering the stem through the cut end, blocking water uptake.

Place the branch-laden containers or vases in a cool room out of direct sunlight. Move the stems to a bright room when the blooms begin to open. Placing the branches out of direct sunlight and in a cool location will prolong bloom period.

Change the water often to keep the stems and blooms turgid. Spray or mist the branches several times a day to prevent the buds from drying out. You may add a floral preservative to the container of water to help control bacteria. One source recommends mouthwash as a method of controlling bacteria in the vase of water.

Some species may take up to eight weeks for the blossoms to open. Forsythia and pussy willow generally take one to three weeks to force, whereas magnolia branches may take three to five weeks. The closer to their natural bloom time that you cut the branches, the sooner they will bloom.

Contact Darrell Blackwelder at704-216-8970.