If you’re working with a tiny garden or just a small balcony, don’t worry—you don’t have to miss out on the incredible fragrance and stunning colors of hyacinths. These spring favorites do just as well in pots as they do in the ground, as long as you know a few insider tricks. Here’s how to keep yours happy and blooming.
What to Look for at the Garden Center
The easiest way to get started is to buy a “pre-forced” bulb that’s already raring to go. You’ll usually find these in shops from November through March. To make sure you’re bringing home a winner, keep an eye out for these signs:
- If you see green shoots, they should look sturdy and compact, not leggy.
- The bulb itself should sit a few inches above the soil line.
- Check the bulb for any soft spots, bruises, or weird black patches—you want it firm and healthy.
Getting Settled at Home
Once you get your hyacinth home, the first thing you should do is ditch that flimsy plastic nursery pot. They’re almost always too cramped for the bulb to breathe. Grab a pretty planter with good drainage, fill it with some well-draining potting mix, and give your hyacinth a new home.
Keep the pot in a bright spot that stays relatively cool while you wait for those first buds to open. Once it’s officially in bloom, the plant is much more forgiving and can handle standard room temperatures just fine.
Ongoing Care Tips
While your hyacinth is putting on its floral show, make sure to water it regularly. The golden rule here? Avoid soggy feet! They hate standing water, so make sure the pot drains well. Once the flowers have faded, you can stop watering entirely.
The great news is that potted hyacinths don’t really need fertilizer. However, you should definitely snip off any wilted flowers right away so the plant doesn’t waste its energy.
A Little Extra Support
Sometimes hyacinths are victims of their own success—their flower heads can get so big and heavy that the stems start to lean or even snap. If yours is looking a little top-heavy, just use a simple wooden skewer or bamboo stake as a support. Gently tie the stem to the stake, and it’ll stand tall again.
Pro Tip: You can easily move your hyacinth from the pot to the garden! Once the blooming season is over, just plant the bulb directly into a flower bed. There’s no need to worry about winter storage indoors; these bulbs are totally frost-hardy once they’re in the ground. In fact, a bit of winter chill is exactly what they need to recharge and come back even stronger next spring!
