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    Home » DIY Projects

    Forcing Forsythia and Flowering Branches

    March 1, 2016 by Patti Estep Leave a Comment

    Jump to How-to Card
    Blooming forsythia branches above branches in bud and bottom cuts.

    Learn about forcing forsythia and other flowering branches indoors. This is a great way to bring in some garden beauty during the late winter months.

    Forsythia branches in a large jug vase on a chest in bloom.

    The winter here in Pennsylvania can drag on and on. Some people joke and say we have four seasons; almost winter, winter, still winter, and summer. While that's obviously not true, our spring and fall do seem to fly by, and in the winter, garden lovers like me can't wait for spring. One thing I like to do that helps is to forcing forsythia branches to blooms so that I can have some cheery yellow blossoms inside, while there is still snow outside.

    Forcing Forsythia

    Where I live many people have forsythia bushes, and they are aggressive hardy growers, so cutting a few branches never hurts.

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    Forsythia branches still in bud.

    All you do is trim branches to the desired length. I like to have varying sizes, but all are pretty large around 2 to 4 feet.

    Prepare a vase with lukewarm water, and a teaspoon of bleach.

    Ends of forsythia branches that have been cut up the middle.

    Next, re-cut the stems by cutting into the bottom, about one inch for better water absorption. Some people actually prefer smashing the stems with a hammer.

    Arrange the branches in the vase, and place them in a spot that is not too warm. A place where there is a decent amount of light but not direct sunlight.

    Change the water every few days or once a week just like you would any cut flower.

    Forsythia branches just starting to bloom indoors.

    After about a week they are starting to bloom! Nothing screams spring like forsythia blooms.

    Pink flowering blossoms on reddish brown branches.

    Other Flowering Trees and Shrubs to Try Forcing Indoors

    Note forsythia is probably the easiest to force and the quickest. However, can force other branches but they may take a few extra weeks to bloom.

    • Quince
    • Lilac
    • Honeysuckle
    • Crabapple
    • Cherry
    • Redbud
    Demijohn vase with flowering forsythia branches on a chest next to more flowers and garden pruners.

    One thing keep in mind: shrubs are easier to force than trees.

    Here's a great article about the best choices for forcing branches by the time of year from Fine Gardening.

    If you don't have any flowering bushes ask a family member, friend, or neighbor. They probably won't mind, and it only takes 2 or 3 branches to make a pretty statement.

    Enough to carry you through the next few weeks.

    Blooming forsythia branches indoors in a demijohn type vase.
    Forsythia
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    5 from 1 vote

    Forcing Forsythia Branches

    Learn about forcing forsythia and other flowering branches indoors. This is a great way to bring in some garden beauty during the late winter months.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Active Time20 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Gardening
    Author: Patti Estep

    Equipment

    • Garden Pruners
    • A large bucket

    Materials

    • Branches from a Forsythia shrub
    • A tall vase

    Instructions

    • Prepare a tall vase with lukewarm water and a teaspoon of bleach. You could also use some commercial floral preservative that often comes with cut flowers.
    • Fill a bucket with warm water and take it outside to your Forsythia shrub.
    • Cut branches in varying lengths and place them in the bucket.
    • Once back inside, re-cut the branches on an angle or make a slit up the center to allow additional water intake.
    • Arrange the branches in your vase and place it in a light cool area away from heat and direct sunlight.
    • After about 1-2 weeks you should have blooming branches and can move the vase where ever you like in the home.

    Notes

    If your branches are quite large you may want to use a bottle vase with a narrow neck to keep them from tipping over.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

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