This frigid weather is getting downright annoying! It's not supposed to be this cold in Chattanooga. I can't wait for warm spring days when birds are chirping and flowers are blooming in the Tennessee Valley.
It seems nothing can be done to change our fate. But wait. Maybe we can trick Mother Nature. We can work a little garden magic called forcing, a technique that causes bulbs, roots or branches to flower early indoors.
Forced tulip and daffodil bulbs in full bloom can be purchased now at most garden stores as can prechilled bulbs ready for forcing. Tree or shrub branches can be cut now and brought into the house. Forcing some of these plants may help us make it to spring.
Fool Mother Nature
Numerous spring-flowering trees and shrubs can be tricked into bloom in midwinter. Branches of azalea, beautybush, crab apple, flowering quince, forsythia, magnolia, pussy willow, redbud, rhododendron, serviceberry, spirea and witch hazel often are used.
Vases of these cut, flowering branches look great next to pots of forced tulips or daffodils. It's a sure cure for spring fever.
When to Cut
Many spring-flowering trees and shrubs require six weeks of winter cold to bloom properly. By mid-February, most spring bloomers have had sufficient cold to successfully force them into bloom indoors. Some require a longer cold dormant period.
Wait until early March to force dogwood, crab apple, beautybush, magnolia, redbud or spirea.
Generally, shrub branches are easier to force than tree branches. The limbs at the top of most shrubs will flower the best. They have the most flower buds, and the buds are closely spaced.
How to force
Choose healthy branches that are free from disease, insect and other injury. Cut the branch just above a side bud. Take branches from crowded spots or other areas where they will not be missed. Cut branches at a variety of lengths for better arrangements. Lengths from 6 to 18 inches are good sizes.
Look for swollen, plump buds. There will be both flower and leaf buds on the stems. Flower buds will be rounder and larger than leaf buds. Cut the branches at an angle. This makes it easier for the branches to take up water. Some people gently smash the bottoms of the cut for better water uptake.
It's best to cut the branches on a warm day. If the branches are frozen, it helps to submerge the entire branch in slightly warm water for a few hours. Put the branches in a tall container of water.
Cover the branches loosely with a plastic bag, or mist them daily to prevent them from drying out.
Place the container in a cool, dark location. A basement works well for this. This tricks the plant into thinking it is spring and time to awaken. Wait until the buds swell open. Then place them in a bright area for showing. This may take one to six weeks. Forsythia, quince and pussy willow branches generally take only one to three weeks to force.
The branches use a lot of water as they develop. Water may be needed a couple of times a week. If the water and vase are kept very clean, flower-keeping chemicals are not necessary. Make a fresh cut if the branches start to dry out.
Forcing branches is a fun and easy winter project for children. It is fascinating to watch the branches develop. Many lessons of nature can be told as the flowers emerge from the buds. A tall vase of crab apple blossoms or dogwood buds forced into early bloom can chase away the winter blahs.
More Online
Learn more about planting and forcing in "Flowering Bulbs for Tennessee Gardens" at www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/pb1610.pdf.
Contact Tom Stebbins at tstebbins@utk.edu or 855-6113.
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