Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
February 12, 2004

   Recent wet snows and falling rain make us all yearn for spring's arrival. It was at this time last year my wife and I was fortunate enough to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Even though the weather outside was absolutely the coldest I'd ever experienced, we observed a breath of spring inside the museum with blooming forsythia. What seem to be entire blooming forsythia shrubs were jammed into huge 20-gallon vases. Forsythia blooms splashed throughout the museum that gave one a sense that spring was just around the corner.
    Rowan residents can also have a bit of spring with a spectacular vase of blooming forsythia branches. Gathering branches of flowering deciduous shrubs and trees is easy for a bit of spring indoors.
        February is a good month to force forsythia blooms. Forsythia is the one of the easiest shrubs to force, although other trees and shrubs may be forced to bloom indoors. Redbud, Flowering Quince, Flowering Dogwood, Witch Hazel, Hawthorn Honeysuckle, Saucer Magnolia, Star Magnolia, Crabapple Flowering Almond, Cherry & Plum, Pussy Willow, Spirea, and Viburnum are just a few species that can be forced. It's best to wait until early March to gather branches of difficult-to-force ornamentals, such as crabapple, magnolia, and redbud.
    When gathering plant material, select branches that are at least 12 inches long with numerous large, plump buds. Flower buds are usually larger and rounder than leaf buds. Gather more branches than you expect to use because some may not absorb water allowing the shrub to bloom. Be sure to use sharp pruners or a knife when making the cuts.
    Split the cut ends, one to four inches for maximum water absorption. Place cut branches in a container of warm water. After a few hours, re-cut one inch from the base of the stem to prevent air from entering the stem through the cut end, blocking water uptake.
Place the branch laden containers or vases in a cool room out of direct sunlight. Move the stems to a bright room when the blooms begin to open. Placing the branches out of direct sunlight and in a cool location will prolong bloom period.
    Change the water often to keep the stems and blooms turgid. Spray or mist the branches several times a day to prevent the buds from drying out. You may add a floral preservative to the container water to help control bacteria. One source recommends mouthwash as a method of controlling bacteria in the vase water.
    Some species may take up to eight weeks for the blossoms to open. Forsythia and pussywillow generally take 1 to 3 weeks to force whereas magnolia branches may take 3 to 5 weeks. The closer to their natural bloom time that you cut the branches, the sooner they will bloom.