Come mid February, I am always so happy to see the buds on my tulip tree start to form. At least where I live, they are one of the first flowering trees to bloom. After a bleak winter, it is always so amazing to see beautiful blooms on the trees.
The blossoms on my tree are more open than most and look like these.
I once saw them in a Pottery Barn catalog arranged in a vase, so I was thinking about cutting some branches off my tree and forcing them to bloom inside.
Here are the steps you can follow to force any spring branches into bloom indoors:
- CUT branches 12-24 inches long using sharp pruners. Look for branches that have interesting curves.
- A GOOD HAMMERING: Use a hammer to gently mash the cut end of each branch. This allows the branches to suck up plenty of moisture through the cut end.
- A LONG SOAK: Soaking the branches overnight in room temperature water helps them to break their dormancy. Afterwards, bring the branches out of water, and let them drain by standing them upright in a bucket of water.
- A COOL WAIT: Place you bucket in a place that is cool, but has some sunlight. Examine your branches every few days until you notice they are beginning to swell.
- A WARM ROOM: When color appears on the buds, it is time to arrange them in a vase. Don’t wait until the blossoms are fully open. Keep them in a warm room until the blossoms open and you have a lovely flower arrangement.
Have you ever forced branches indoors? Was it a success or an epic fail? What are your favorite spring branches to force.
I am in the mood for a serious dose of Spring, so I can’t wait to see my blossoms bloom!
xoxo
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