Gifts for Christmas - Hyacinths
Making your own gifts for Christmas allows you to add your own personal touches and doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Hyacinths make wonderful fragrant Christmas gifts. You can plant them in a array of different containers, from baskets, rustic wooden boxes to vintage ceramics picked up in the local charity shop. Add wrapping and a ribbon for a personal and professional touch!
Make sure when purchasing hyacinth bulbs you buy "prepared" bulbs as these have been treated to flower earlier.
- To begin, place a layer of damp compost into your chosen container.
- Place the hyacinth bulbs on the compost, close together but not touching each other or the sides of the container.
- Fill around the bulbs with more compost, leaving space between the container rim and compost surface to allow for watering. The top of the bulbs should just show at the compost surface.
- Now place your hyacinth bulbs in a cold dark place. A shed, garage or cellar is ideal. You can leave them for up to 10 weeks.
- Cover the pots with black bin liners to stop light getting through and check them regularly, watering them sparingly if the compost feels dry.
- Once shoots have appeared a few inches above the compost surface, bring them indoors and place in a bright, cool position, taking care not to place them above a radiator.
- Water regularly when the compost dries out and they should start flowering within 3 weeks.
Learn more
If you want more ideas for Gifts for Christmas take a look at our Flowers as Gifts workshop on November 29th where you will not only learn how to make stunning floral gifts but also find out the tricks of wrapping them professionally!