Hyacinth Plant with unique stunning flowers
Image by Мария Агейкина from Pixabay
These beautiful Hyacinth plants are mostly seen in regions with colder climatic conditions. The unique flower arrangement and the attractive colors are cheering and adds beauty to the garden. They require very little care if grown in right conditions.
Quick Details of Hyacinth Plant
| Other Common Names | Hycanth |
| Type | Outdoor flowering plant |
| Maintenance | Low/ Moderate |
| Flowering | Spring |
| Light | Bright direct sunlight or partial shade |
| Water | Deep water ones a week |
| Temperature | Colder climatic conditions with normal humidity |
| Soil | Any well draining soil |
| Fertilizer | Bulb fertilizer before planting and when the plant starts to bloom. |
| Habitat | Eastern Mediterranean |
| Toxicity | Bulb is toxic to humans as well as animals |
| Common Diseases | Bulb rot |
| Scientific name | Hyacinthus orientalis |
Hyacinth Buying Instructions
- There are two types of Hyacinth Plants. Hyacinth that can be grown in soil and another one is Water Hyacinth. Please choose it accordingly. Here we are detailing about Hyacinth that can be grown in soil.
- Hyacinth require cold whether.
- You can buy bulbs as well.
Overview of Hyacinth
They are bulbous spring blooming perennials belonging to the family Asperagaceae. The plants are native to Eastern Mediterranean. These are small plants growing up to a height of 8 feet height. They are bulbous plants with the leaves and spikes arising directly from the bulbs. The flowering stalk or spikes either 1 -2 arise from the bulb which is surrounded by long dark green leaves. The flowers bloom mostly during early spring.
Usage and Advantage of Hyacinth
- Grown as an ornamental plant.
- Used as cut flowers.
General Care for Hyacinth Plant
Soil
These plants are not specific about the type of soil. The soil should be well draining and should not contain much organic matter.
Water
They do not require much watering. Excess moisture in the soil can lead to bulb rot. Deep water the plants ones a week.
Sunlight
They prefer bright direct sunlight. These plants tolerate filtered direct sunlight or partial shade.
Temperature
The plants are said to survive in winters. They need little protections from harsh winters. The plants cannot tolerate harsh summers and can wilt and die. They grow well in places with normal humidity.
Special Care of Hyacinth plants
They do not require much care. Avoid excess watering and over feeding the plants. Wait till the the leaves die back to collect the bulbs. In places with mild winters, the bulb can be placed in a dark cool place or in the refrigerator before planting the bulbs to give them the temperature required for blooming
Fertilization
They do not require much feeding. Too much organic matter can cause the plants to become floppy. Add a bulb fertilizer or bone meal before planting the bulbs and ones the plant starts to bloom.
Pests and other problems for Hycanth
The bulbs are prone to bulb rot or mold if the soil has excess moisture. Make sure not to overwater the bulbs. Some of the common diseases seen to infect Hycanth are
Yellow rot
Mostly seen in plants grown in soil that are too damp. The leaves and the stems get infected. The stems turn brown, shrivel and yellow slime can be seen inside. The infected leaves turn yellow and waterlogged and later develop brown spots on them. The plants wilt and die. Destroy the infected plant to avoid the spread.
Mosaic
It is a viral disease spread by nematodes. The nematodes attack the bulbs and helps in the infestation of the virus into the plant. The leaves develop discoloration and turn blue-green. Destroy the infected plant and disinfect the plant from nematodes.
Botrytis blight
It is one of the common disease that are seen in bulbs. It is a fungal disease caused due to Botrytis spp. The infected parts develop circular or oval reddish-brown spots with purple margins. The infected plants develop spots which can spread and rot the entire leaf which further spreads to the other parts of the plant. The diseases spread fast under cool, humid conditions especially when there is no proper aeration. Remove infected parts of the plant and use a mild fungicide. In case of severe spread, destroy the plant.
Soft rot
It is a fungal disease caused by Erwinia carotovora. The pathogens infect the flowers which results in no flowering or the flowers fall off even before it opens. The flowers appear waterlogged. The infected bulbs become mushy and releases a bad odor. In case of any infected plant, remove the plant immediately and destroy it as these pathogens are hightly contagious and can spread very fast. Plant the bulbs in a well draining soil that has been disinfected. Avoid overcrowding of the plants.
Propagation of Hyacinth
They are propagated through bulbs. The bulbs can be collected after summer. Uproot the plant carefully and collect the small offsets that arise at the sides of the older bulbs. Plant the bulbs at least 4 inches deep with the pointy edge facing up. Place them 2-4 inches apart. Cover it with soil and water them regularly. The bulbs can take time to propagate.
