by Betty Sanders
Lifetime Master Gardener

It’s winter in New England for far too long. Spring flowers appear in the markets, but what about our own gardens? We can’t change the weather, but we can start our garden blooming indoors.

If you are intrigued by the idea of entering horticulture in Blooms! at the upcoming Boston Flower & Garden Show, but you just aren’t a houseplant person, there are two categories that may be perfect for you: cut specimens blooming outdoors naturally and cut specimens forced into bloom. Your flowering trees and shrubs could send you home with a blue ribbon even as your plants shiver in late March cold.

Forcing, or as I prefer, coaxing plants into bloom is wonderful way to start the season early. Late winter is the best time to prune many plants, but when we prune our spring flowering plants we lose some of the flowers. If you combine your selective pruning with forcing the branches, you get to enjoy the flowers over a longer season.

To coax branches into bloom for Blooms!, you must begin by counting backwards from the entry date—March 22— anywhere two to five weeks depending on what you are forcing. Choose a day when the temperature is above freezing and look for branches that have lots of plump flower buds (these are larger than the leaf buds). Because the timing of a forced bloom is never 100% predictable, give yourself second and third chances by cutting branches on several days to allow for shorter or longer forcing periods. Because you are pruning a blooming plant, you will want to do so with extra care in order to assure that the “outdoor” bloom that follows is not sacrificed. Start by looking at crossing branches or those that may rub against another branch.

The branches you are going to force should be less than one-half inch in diameter. When you’ve chosen the branches, cut them with sharp clippers and bring them inside. There you need to clean off any low side branches that might interfere with using them in a vase. Place the branches in a bucket or other container (the deeper the better) to hold them upright.

Re-cut the stems on a 45° angle, providing more surface area for taking up water. Then place them into three inches of warm (100°) water. Wait a few minutes and then fill the container as high up the stems as possible with water to which a floral preservative has been added. Also add a teaspoon of chlorine bleach to prevent bacteria growth. Keep the container in a cool, somewhat shaded location. I have often kept the branches in an unheated garage or basement. Imitate spring with high humidity by misting the branches. Do not let the water level fall.

When the buds show color, it’s time to move them into the house, but out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Re-cut the ends and provide fresh water with preservatives. To keep the flowers lasting longer, return them to a cooler location each night. If your branches are show worthy, remember they cannot exceed 30 inches in length or width for entry into the show. Go to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society website (www.MassHort.org) and click on Blooms! for a complete set of Horticulture rules and entry date and times.

Look for branches with swollen buds, such as this ornamental plum	Use bypass pruners to cut the branch at a 45 degree angle	Forced indoors, this forsythia will flower in about two weeks	Trim off lower spurs, add floral preservative and a teaspoon of bleach per container of water	Wait a few weeks... and voila!

New England Trees and shrubs for March Forcing

The internet contains many lists of suggested trees and shrubs for forcing, but be careful of your information source. What may be in bud in Ohio or Texas in late February and early March is very different from our area. Here is a brief list of what to look for: