ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603220010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Hoein' and Growin'
SOURCE: SUSAN MCCREA, MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION
Signs of spring are becoming apparent. Bulbs are pushing their green tops up through the earth, birds are starting to sing again, and the days are getting a little bit longer.
After the cold and tedious winter weather we have just endured any small harbingers of spring can lift the spirits and gladden hearts.
At this time of year, many gardeners force blooms from early flowering shrubs for indoor floral arrangement. A room filled with vases of flowering quince, cherry, forsythia and pussy willow branches can do wonders for those weary of winter weather. Forcing blooms is easily done. It requires some patience but is a fun project to do with children.
The principle behind forcing indoors is to trick the flower buds into opening a month or so before their natural blooming times. This is done by altering their normal light, temperature and water requirements. One rule to remember is that less forcing time is required the closer the project is started to the plant's normal blooming time. For example, now is the perfect time to cut forsythia and pussy willow branches because they usually flower starting in March. Next month, cut lilac and dogwood branches because full bloom for them begins later in the spring.
Many trees and shrubs make good forcers. Experimenting can be fun. Some commonly used specimens are:
Amelanchier canadensis (Shadbush or Serviceberry)
Cercis canadensis (American Redbud)
Chaenomeles spp. (Flowering Dogwood)
Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry)
Daphne Spp. (various species of Daphne)
Hamaelis vernalis (Witch Hazel)
Magnolia spp. (various species of Magnolia)
Prunus spp. (This group includes Flowering Apricot, Cherry and Almond)
Malus spp. (Apples and Crabapples)
Salix discolor (Pussywillow)
The first step is to cut the branches. This should be done toward midday when the weather is mild; don't cut branches when they are frozen. Look for branches with lots of floral buds rather than vegetative buds. Flower buds are fat, plump, round and tend to stick out away from the wood. In contrast, leaf buds are flat and pointed and usually grow against the bark not away from it. Use good pruning techniques when cutting. Don't leave stumps or jagged ends. Try and snip branches with interesting shapes which will add appeal to your indoor arrangement.
Bring the branches inside and scrape some of the bark from the bottom inch or so. This encourages the branch to take up more water which it needs for flowering. Another technique is to mash the bottom of the branch with a hammer; this works well with the tougher, woodier trees and shrubs.
Next, submerge all the branches in a vat or tub of warm water for a good 24 hour soak. Because the water is warmer than the temperature outside, this encourages the branches to break their dormancy.
After their warm bath, the branches can be arranged in water-filled vases or containers. Just as with cut flowers, bacteria can be reduced by frequent water changes or by adding a drop of bleach to the water, or dropping a little sugar or charcoal into the container. There are many tips and theories on this subject so just use whatever is handy.
The containers need to be kept in a cool, dark place such as a basement, garage, or an unheated room. Keep an eye on branches and when the buds begin to swell and look noticeably bigger, move the containers to a warm, bright (not sunny) spot. The bud swelling process can happen quickly or very slowly depending upon the type of plant materials selected. This is where patience is required. Make sure the containers have plenty of water; misting might be necessary if the room is dry.
If all the flowering conditions are met, the buds will swell and color will appear. Before long, the buds will open and the welcome spring flowers will fill your home with bright colors and fragrances. When that happens, spring can't be far behind.
Susan McCrea is a master gardener.
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