In the News - January 2008
Forcing forsythias indoors
SEARCY, Ark. - Before too long, some horticulture enthusiasts will be
thinking about harvesting branches of flowering shrubs and bringing them indoors
to force into bloom. Cold followed by a warm spell is the combination that sets
buds to swelling, according to Sherri Sanders, White County agent with the
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
"Forsythia and other leaf-losing (deciduous) spring-flowering shrubs are
children of the ice ages," she said. "Cold followed by warmth breaks the
genetically-designed and controlled dormancy that gets them through cold weather
without harm."
Forsythia is the first flowering plant ready for forcing and the easiest to
force. Way back in late summer, the blossom and leaf buds were fully formed and
ready to go. A cold spell in the fall followed by a warm period will set
forsythia off. A few little yellow flags pop out, wave in the autumn breezes,
discover winter is coming and catch cold. But if you cut those branches and take
them indoors for forcing in the fall BEFORE a chilling period, even well-budded
forsythia won't bloom.
"Here in zone 7, the forsythia can be ready to force in late January,"
Sanders said. You know how ready a branch is for forcing by the amount of
swelling in the buds."
The larger the buds, the closer they are to flowering outdoors and the more
quickly they'll bloom indoors. The smaller the buds, the longer they'll take to
force into bloom indoors. Depending upon that size, it takes one to three weeks
to force forsythia. The other flowering shrubs need two to five weeks."
The best forsythia branches for forcing are those at the top of the plant,
the ones studded with closely-spaced buds. Choose the branches that have the
most large buds (they're the flower buds). Cut the stems at a long slant and
stand them in cold water in a cool place for two days. Then re-cut the stems and
arrange them in a large pitcher of warm water in a sunny window.
In a few weeks, these small yellow flowers will open, and after they are
gone, and sometimes while the flowers are still there, a few small pale green
leaves open out. Left in the water for many more weeks, forsythia branches may
root: planted, they usually will grow into shrubs.
"Forsythia is the easiest to force, and the most satisfying because it puts
out the most flowers," Sanders said.
Branches of almost any shrub that flowers in spring can be forced into bloom
indoors, including pears, cherries, and dogwoods. The flowers on forced
crabapple and quince are sparse, but exquisite. Pussy willows can be forced in
February, and they'll bud in just a week or two if you remove the bud scales.
When the blossoms are fully developed, remove the branches form the water or
they'll root and drop their flowers.
Spirea can be forced, too, and so can lilac, but forced lilacs are poor pale
things that always make one wish they'd left them on the shrub to bloom.
Just one branch of cherry blossoms alone in a vase in late winter has an
extraordinary impact, the county agent said. And those great curved whips that
forsythia shrubs throw out are beautiful when forced into bloom and combined
with sprays of deep pink miniature carnations and one or two branches of
hemlock, juniper, or nandina.
"Flowering quince or dogwood combined with trailing stems of asparagus fern
and huge apricot and pink tulips make an exquisite bouquet," Sanders said.
For more information on horticultural matters, contact your county extension
agent or visit www.uaex.edu and select Home and Garden. Ask
your agent for the Horticulture Highlights 2008 CD©. The Cooperative Extension
Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
January 25, 2008
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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