Growing Hyacinths in Water Indoors

Hyacinth in a vase

I love to grow bulbs in pots or the garden beds but there is also another way to have flowering bulbs even if you don't have outdoor space. Hyacinths, for instance, can be grown in a glass vase, kept indoors to flower into their fragrant beauty.

The hyacinths are grown in a special glass jar, shaped like an hourglass with the bottom half filled water and the bulb placed in the top half. Water should never touch the bottom of the bulb, just about 5mm below. Put the filled jar in a cupboard or dark place for several weeks until roots and shoots appear. Then gradually bring the vase into brighter light (avoiding hot direct sunlight) over coming weeks until the flower shoot comes into flower, where it can make a conversation piece as a display on a coffee or dining table.

A useful tip is to add some activated charcoal pieces (as used in aquariums) to the vase as these help keep the water fresh longer (note Garden Express vase kits include the carbon pieces).