As the last wisps of winter’s chill dissipate, our thoughts turn to the vibrant colors and sweet scents of spring. While we eagerly await the arrival of warm weather, there’s a simple yet delightful way to bring the season indoors: forcing flowering branches. This traditional technique not only fills your home with the heady aromas and stunning blooms of spring but also provides a creative outlet for repurposing pruned branches.
The process is remarkably straightforward – simply harvest cuttings from your flowering tree or shrub, treat them as you would fresh-cut flowers, and enjoy the rewards. Read on to discover which trees and bushes are well-suited for this endeavor and learn the easy steps to get started.
Get Ready
When it comes to collecting branches for propagation, timing is crucial. Typically, this process begins in February or March, although agricultural zones can influence the start date – some regions may even start as early as January. A critical factor to consider is the six-week chilling period under 40°F, which allows plants to transition from their dormant phase and prepare for blooming. Avoid cutting branches before January 15th to ensure this process occurs.
Weather conditions can also impact bloom times, with some trees already bearing swelling buds ready to burst into flowers in your care. Others may take a bit longer to develop. As you collect branches, be mindful that some may exhibit both leaf and flower buds. If uncertain, simply cut open a bud to reveal its contents – typically, flower buds are larger and rounder in shape, often emerging on the previous year’s growth.
It takes two to four weeks for the branches to mature into blooming flowers.
Steps to Forcing Branches
When it comes time to prune your branches, start by selecting those that are crossing over others or growing too thickly in the middle. Aim for stems at least 12 inches long with plenty of buds starting to appear. To make the cut, place your pruning tool at the base of the stem on a diagonal and slice through at the top of the branch collar, where it meets a larger branch or the trunk.
Collect your pruned branches in a large vase or container filled with warm water and consider adding a flower preservative if desired. For inspiration, try whipping up one of our homemade recipes below. Look for a sunny spot with cool temperatures, ideally away from direct heat sources. Mist your arrangement daily to encourage buds to swell and combat dryness caused by indoor heating. Bright, indirect light is ideal for promoting healthy growth.
To prevent bacterial growth and the risk of disease, replace the water every few days. Once blooms start appearing, you can relocate your arrangement to a table or other welcoming spot. Just remember to continue changing the water regularly to extend the life of your cut flowers.
Tips
When pruning your plants, it’s essential to consider the temperature. Cut branches when the mercury is above freezing to prevent shocking your plants with drastic changes in environment.
Invest in a clean and sharp pair of pruning shears to make precise cuts. This is also an opportunity to perform some general pruning. Remove dead or misshapen branches, focusing on shaping your bush and promoting healthy air circulation.
To ensure optimal growth and water uptake, adopt good pruning techniques. Cut branches at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area and encourage moisture absorption. Some enthusiasts even use a hammer to slightly crush the cut ends, stimulating the plant’s thirst for hydration.
Remember to prune judiciously, never removing more than one-quarter of the plant’s branches. For forcing flowering branches, as few as 8-10 well-placed branches can create a stunning display.
Leave sufficient healthy growth on the bush to ensure a resplendent showing when spring arrives.
Best Bushes and Trees For Forcing
As autumn approaches, some trees and bushes begin to set buds, even during brief winter warm spells. These prescient specimens respond remarkably well to being brought indoors, where the warmth and coziness of your home can coax them into opening up. When selecting trees or bushes for forced flowering, look for varieties that produce flowers before bursting forth with leaves.
You have the option to mix and match different types, creating a unique arrangement of forced flowering branches, or stick with a single variety for a more cohesive display.
Forsythia
While Forsythia is often considered a traditional choice for forcing, its natural tendency to bloom early makes it an ideal candidate for indoor cultivation. With proper care, this showy shrub can produce abundant displays of vibrant yellow blooms in as little as two weeks, filling your home with a burst of sunny color.
Witch Hazel
One of the most intriguing aspects of witch hazel is its ability to bloom during the winter season, a feat that doesn’t require any special coaxing or forced cultivation. By simply pruning a few stems and bringing them indoors, you can enjoy the bush’s unique beauty without having to wait for warmer weather.
Magnolia
My fascination with magnolias knows no bounds, and I often find myself dreaming of their beautiful blooms year-round. Fortunately, all magnolia varieties are well-suited for forcing, allowing me to enjoy their unique charms at any time. The star magnolia is particularly captivating due to its delicate white flowers, which resemble a constellation of twinkling stars in the night sky. In contrast, other species boast soft, cup-shaped blooms that evoke a sense of gentle serenity.
Red Bud
As the seasons transition, one of the most unmistakable signs of spring’s arrival is the vibrant display of pink redbud blossoms adorning the landscape. A simple yet effective way to prolong this delightful visual treat is to bring some of these lovely blooms indoors, allowing you to bask in their beauty and charm long after they’ve faded from view.
Pussy Willow
If you’re looking for a unique and low-maintenance option, consider using pussy willows instead of traditional blooming branches. These charming stems produce fluffy, soft white buds rather than delicate blossoms. One of the best parts about using pussy willows is how quickly they force – typically within one to two weeks, you can enjoy their fuzzy texture and elegant appearance.
Apple
When it comes to forcing flowering branches, both crab apples and traditional apples are excellent choices. Not only will they fill your home with their sweet aroma, but some varieties even boast double blossoms – a feature that requires a bit more time to achieve.
Flowering Quince
The flowering quince boasts an impressive display of long-lasting, vibrant blooms that can be a stunning shade of red or warm orange. While the process of forcing this plant can take a full four weeks, the end result is well worth the wait.
Cherry
While it’s possible to induce both fruit-bearing and flowering cherry trees to bloom, these varieties tend to be later-bloomers in the home environment. In fact, it may take up to four weeks for them to start producing flowers. To keep them healthy during this process, be sure to mist them regularly with water to prevent drying out. On the other hand, ornamental flowering cherries are generally easier to force into blooming, requiring less time and care to produce their stunning displays.
Lilacs
Large lilac bushes boast an abundance of intensely fragrant flowers that cluster together in a symphony of colors, including shades of purple, white, and pink. When it comes to forcing these beautiful blooms, they require a dedicated four-week period to thrive.
Serviceberry
Serviceberry’s ability to quickly produce a display of delicate white blooms is yet another effortless feat. Within the span of just one to three weeks, these charming flowers are sure to catch your eye.
Beauty Bush
The beauty bush is characterized by its delicate pink blooms, which appear in small, compact clusters. Interestingly, this lovely shrub requires a relatively brief period of time to produce its vibrant flowers – a mere three weeks when grown indoors.
Honeysuckle
While I have a conflicted affinity for honeysuckle, its invasive nature in the garden is undeniable. However, the intoxicating aroma and the fact that my bees adore it make it a hard-to-reject presence. In fact, honeysuckle can spread rapidly, requiring minimal effort to establish itself within just a couple of weeks. The reward is well worth the effort, as it produces vibrant pink, salmon, yellow, or white flowers with an unmistakable fragrance.
Spicebush
The delicate, fragrant blooms of Spicebush are a stunning sight to behold, boasting a soft pinkish-white hue. What’s more, this charming plant is remarkably easy to coax into bloom, making it an ideal choice for those looking to add a touch of whimsy to their indoor or outdoor spaces.
Rhododendrons and Azaleas
Rhododendrons and azaleas share a common thread, with their similarities making them challenging to time. As you await the arrival of blooms, keep a close eye on your bushes as bud swell signals their readiness. Typically, these plants are ready for harvesting in late February or March when buds are poised to burst forth. A wide range of colors can be found within this family, and forcing the branches takes approximately four to six weeks.
Weeping Willow
The distinctive feature of weeping willow trees is the production of long, hanging catkins, which are actually clusters of tiny flowers and immature seeds. This process typically takes around three weeks to complete, as the tree’s branches undergo a transformation known as ‘forcing’.
Rooting
When forced flowering branches develop roots in warm water, it’s an ideal chance to propagate a new bush. This process occurs when the stems are submerged for an extended period. To cultivate a new plant, simply remove the rooted branch from the water once the roots have grown to 1/4 – 1 inch long. Then, transplant the branch into individual pots filled with potting soil. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until permanent roots take hold.
During this stage, you may need to provide support to prevent damage or breakage.
Once the last frost has passed and temperatures have risen, you can safely transfer your bush outdoors. As a tender first-year plant, it will require protection to establish itself successfully. Ensure the soil remains moist and consider fertilizing monthly to promote healthy growth.
Homemade Flower Preservative
To prolong the life of your forced branches, consider adding a homemade flower preservative to the water. Just like cut flowers, the branches will benefit from this boost. Additionally, remember to change the water every few days to keep the branches fresh. The recipe for the homemade flower food is simple: combine 1 teaspoon of sugar, 0.5 teaspoons of bleach, and 1 teaspoon of lemon or lime juice with 1 quart of lukewarm water.
This mixture works by providing carbohydrates to the plant through the sugar, combating bacterial growth with the bleach, and adjusting the pH with the acidity from the lemon or lime juice. Experts recommend using warm water for this process, as it can help the stems absorb the nutrients more effectively.
Take Away
There’s something undeniably satisfying about coaxing life out of seemingly barren branches, and for me, it all started with my childhood memories of helping my mother gather pussy willow and forsythia to force. The end result was a stunning display of contrasting textures and colors that still brings a smile to my face today.
As someone who’s always eager to bid farewell to winter’s chill and welcome the vibrant hues of spring, I find myself drawn to the promise of forcing branches like a magnet. It’s as if the simple act of nurturing dormant stems into vibrant blooms provides a much-needed respite from the drabness of winter, giving me a glimpse of the colorful splendor that’s just around the corner.
