What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering

Learn What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering for More Color and Fragrance Next Spring

No spring garden is complete without the sweet fragrance and color of hyacinths; they’re some of the easiest flower bulbs to grow, whether in pots and bowls or in the garden. But do you know what to do with hyacinth bulbs after flowering to ensure a successful display next spring?

What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering in the Garden

Hyacinths are perennial and will happily bloom year after year if you care for them properly. They originated in the hot, dry mountains of Turkey and love basking in the sun so choose a warm, bright spot to plant them and make sure the soil does not get too soggy. After the bulb has bloomed, remove the faded flower spike so that the plant’s energy is not wasted in forming seed heads. All the nutrients contained in the foliage will return to the bulb, where next season’s bloom is already forming. Allow the stem and leaves to die back naturally and only cut them back when the foliage is shriveled and yellow.

What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering in Containers

Hyacinths look fabulous in containers, either on their own or combined with other spring bulbs such as daffodils and early tulips. After your hyacinths have bloomed, remove the faded flower spikes and allow the foliage to die back. Dig up the bulbs, discard any damaged or diseased ones, and then dry them and store in paper sacks before replanting in the fall.

What to Do With Hyacinth Bulbs After Flowering Indoors

Hyacinths that have been especially “forced” to come into bloom early in pots indoors are very unlikely to bloom for a second season. It’s best to discard them and buy fresh ones to plant in the fall.

Now that you’ve learned what to do with hyacinth bulbs after flowering, why not add some to your spring garden? Discover a range of dark dramatic colors and delicate pastel shades in our hyacinth collection.