Cut Branches of Outdoor Plants Give Early Bloom

Because winter is a good time for pruning many shrubs and trees around the home, we can also prune as we gather branches for flowering indoors. Some plants have separate flower and leaf buds. These are fairly easy to tell because buds tend to be thicker than buds that produce only leaves. Some plants produce both flowers and leaves from the same bud, so special selection is unnecessary.

One of the easiest and most popular shrubs for indoor forcing is the forsythia, which normally blooms outdoors in late March with a profusion of brilliant yellow flowers. Forsythia is a plant with separate flower and leaf buds. Another plant somewhat similar to forsythia in bloom is the winter Jasmine. However, this shrub is not too hardy, and flower buds are often killed by the first severe freeze.

A tree that provides quick color indoors is whiten hazel. Branches should bloom after only about two weeks. Their yellow flowers are not splashy, but are interesting and unusual. Another tree, the red maple, also will produce its small red flowers in about two weeks. Flowering almond, thunberg spirea and bridal wreath spirea are common shrubs that are easy to bring into bloom indoors. They normally take about four weeks to flower after cutting at this time of year.

A few other plants worth trying, although somewhat slower, include flowering quince, pear, lilac, dogwood and magnolia. Cut the branches for forcing on a warm day when the temperatures are above freezing. After they have been brought indoors, they should be submerged in water for a few hours to totally moisten the buds. If branches are too large for this method, keep the buds moist by wrapping the tops in damp burlap for several days, or enclose them in a large plastic bag with a little moisture added.

After buds have been moistened, place the branches in a pail of deep water, and change the water at weekly intervals or as often as necessary to keep it clean. Keep the branches in a cool spot but above freezing. Temperatures should not go higher than 60 to 65 degrees. As the buds develop, the branches may be moved to a higher temperature to speed flowering. However, this is unnecessary, and branches often flower heavier and have better color if kept at cool temperatures.

During the early stage of forcing, light is not needed but as the buds begin to swell, branches should be placed where they get good light. Some of the more difficult branches, such as lilac, dogwood and magnolia, should be kept covered loosely with plastic or moist burlap until flower buds are well developed.