Forcing branches tobloom inside can be a simple way to brighten up your indoor space and remind you that spring will soon be here. Almost any spring-blooming tree or shrub can be used in this fashion. ForcingShrubstoBloom in Winter. The first step to force branches during winter is collecting the stems. Choose branches with fat buds that indicate the shrub has broken dormancy. Depending on the variety of flowering shrub or tree, the branches will begin tobloom as quickly as one week or as long as four to six weeks after cutting. The water in the vases should be changed at least once a week for the best results. Pussy willow shoots in bloom. Photo by Bob Bricault, MSU Extension. Longing for a bit of color during a long, gray winter? April flowers seem too far off? Try your hand at forcingblooms indoors from some of your favorite spring flowering trees and shrubs. ForcingShrubstoBloom in Winter#. The first step to force branches during winter is collecting the stems. Choose branches with fat buds that indicate the shrub has broken dormancy. Spring bloomingshrubs and bulbs can be forcedtobloom indoors brightening up your home to help get you through the gloom of the last few weeks of winter. The easiest trees and shrubstoforce into bloom are ones that bloom in early spring. Forcing branches cut from flowering trees and shrubs in your yard tobloom indoors during winter is one way to banish the "I need to grow something" blues. A good time to take cuttings for forcing is when you're doing your annual winter pruning. If pruning isn't on your winter to-do list, just take a look around your yard. What trees and shrubs do you have that bloom in the spring? Richard Hentschel, Extension Educator. Most of the spring bloomingshrubs and small ornamental trees in the home landscape already have their flower buds ready to go right now. The flower buds were created last summer and have overwintered protected by insulating bud scales. How about rushing the season by forcing some branches into bloom? The sight of golden forsythia blossoms on the dining room table is a sure cure for the March blues. There are many trees and shrubs whose branches can be forced into bloom. This year in particular, however, I encourage readers to get early summer blooms by forcing branches of applicable plants. For the uninitiated, lots of shrubs and trees already have tiny flower buds developed. All they need is warm weather. February Daphne may bloom somewhere in February — New Jersey, the garden state, for example — but for me it blooms in April. Early April if the weather is mild, like this year. I picked some recently and the buds, nearly open, popped open almost immediately. Forcing branches tobloom indoors. Transition your shrubs indoors slowly. Place them in cold, fresh water immediately after cutting, and store them overnight in a location on the cool side, like an unheated garage or entryway. Winter BloomForcing: Tips On ForcingShrubsToBloom In Winter. If gloomy winter days have you down, why not brighten them instead by forcing flowering shrub branches into bloom? Get started by reading this article and soon you will be rewarded with new growth and color.
