Blue hyacinth stands as one of the most beautiful plants around. Complete with a vibrant hue and beautiful fragrance, it looks good in any garden or vase.
Growing such an attractive plant might look complicated. However, the plant serves as a favorite amongst growers. When it comes down to it, this plant can even endure various conditions even frost.
How about indoor gardening? Can you use hydroponics to cultivate this interesting crop? If you want answers to this question, you should check out this article.
Let’s get started.
Can Blue Hyacinth Be Grown Hydroponically?
Yes, you can grow blue hyacinths in a hydroponic system. But before the plant can go properly, you will have to take care of the plant while offering the best conditions.
Hyacinths can be grown in various ways including in a hydroponic system. As expected, a hydroponic system can produce various colors of hyacinths.
If you want to know how to grow blue hyacinth with hydroponics, you can learn the basic steps from this article. But first, let’s learn about hyacinths.
What are Blue Hyacinths?
Blue hyacinths come from a family of sweet-smelling plants known as Asparagaceae. With this in mind, you have popular plants like the garden asparagus.
Hyacinths come from parts of Europe and the Middle East. But today, you can find it in many parts of the world. Besides, they can thrive in various environments.
These plants have at least four linear leaves and come from bulbs. When it comes to height, some hyacinth plants can reach 20cm.
Apart from blue, hyacinth comes from in colors such as pink, purple, yellow, and violet. You can also find white hyacinths in outdoor or indoor gardens.
What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics involves the growth of plants without soil. Instead of growing plants in the ground, the system allows users to grow the plants in a special nutrient solution.
An ideal nutrient solution includes organic or inorganic materials. With this in mind, a nutrient solution can contain anything from fertilizers to animal manure. Because these materials provide required nutrients, you can expect a healthy crop of plants.
Growers use hydroponics to grow various vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Moreover, there are several types of hydroponic techniques such as aeroponics, ebb and flow, continuous flow culture, deep water culture, and run-to-waste.
Now let’s see how hydroponics can be used for growing blue hyacinths.
How to Grow Blue Hyacinths with Hydroponics
To grow a blue hyacinth does not involve much work. But since you are using hydroponics, you will have to grow the plant with special techniques.
- Get a bulb vase.
- Insert the blue hyacinth bulb into the bulb vase. To put the bulb into the container, start from the round bottom and leave the pointed top outside the bottle.
- Pour some water into a container and allow the liquid to reach about half an inch of the round bottom.
- Leave the plant with the vase in a dark area for 13 weeks. Make sure the temperature of the space stays at 45°c.
- Perform regular inspections and lookout for signs of disease and rotting.
- Replace the water and do not allow it to touch the blue hyacinth bulb.
- Move the vase to a cooler location. For the best results, work with temperatures between 10°c to 16°c. Also, make sure that the space has decent lighting.
- Wait until you have a well-developed root system and two-inch roots.
- Move the vase to a brightly lit area. However, avoid sunlight and excessive heat.
- Change the water in the vase. Continue replacing the liquid until you notice blooms on the plant.
How to Plant Hyacinths in Containers
If you want the blue hyacinths to bloom in pots, wait for the flowers and foliage to die off. With this technique, the plant might have enough strength for extra bloom.
- Gently pull out the dried foliage from the bulb of the blue hyacinths plant. If the leaves feel stuck, wait for time and try again. Before touching the plant, wear some gloves to avoid irritation.
- Get containers with dedicated spaces for draining the soil. For the best results, look for designs that are not heavy. 0pAlso, make sure that your option can handle extreme cold.
- Add some soil to the containers. Instead of dealing with any type of soil, look for well drained, top quality varieties.
- Look for an area in your garden that promises full to partial sunlight. When you find the right spot, move the containers to that area.
- Dig a hole of 2 – 3 inches in the soil
- Wear handgloves before touching the bulbs. Then place the bulb into the containers. But do not alllow them to touch anything incuding other bulbs or the container.
- Bury the bulbs in the hole. When you plant the bulbs, make sure that you start from the flattest end.
- Soak the area with water. But if the soil is already wet at 3 inches, do not add more water as it can affect the growth of the blue hyacinths.
- Leave the container but watch the sprouts from the bulbs. When the sprouts appear, expose to more light. If you have a sunny patio, you can place the pot there.
- Consider the climate in your area. If the area is freezing cold, you can cover up of the container with bubble wrap. But if you can carry the pot, move it to a warmer spot like the basement or even the garage.
What Should I Do to My Hydroponics Hyacinth after Flowering?
At this stage, you will have to move the plant to the garden. Although the blue hyacinth plant might not bloom for a second time. But if you use the following tips, you might get lucky and make the plant to bloom again.
- Wait for the flowers to wilt while the leaves become yellow and die off.
- Allow the leaves to dry off but make sure the vase has the same level of water.
- Leave the roots and take out the bulbs. Remember to wear gloves as hyacinth bulbs can irritate the skin.
- Wait for the roots to dry off.
- Gently pull the withered leaves from the plant. If it they feel stuck, you might have to wait for some more time. Then try to remove the withered leaves again.
- Head to the garden and get the best area for planting the bulbs. On that spot, make a hole of 2 – 3 inches deep.
- Drop the bulbs into the whole. As you place the items, aim for a natural look by scattering them in the hole. If you are worried about placing the bulbs in the right position, make sure the bulb lands with its flattest end.
- Plant all the bulbs and soak the area with water.
Are there Different Shades of Blue That I Can Plant Hydroponically?
Yes, there are different types of blue hyacinths that you can use in your garden.
- Blue Festival Hyacinth
The Blue Festival Hyacinth is one of the popular types of hyacinths. Instead of sporting pure blue flowers, the plant offers these parts in purple – blue.
- Blue Star Hyacinth
On the Blue Star hyacinth, you will find a spike of blue flowers. So if you are into original blue plants, you can try this variety.
- Delft Blue Hyacinth
Even if this plant has green glossy leaves, it has blue flowers. Since the flowers are attractive, they can brighten up your indoor space or garden.
- Gypsy Queen Hyacinth
At first glance, the Gypsy Hyacinth has a combination of various colors. But if you look closer, you might find some blue flowers hiding behind pale salmon ones.
How to Protect Hydroponic Blue Hyacinths from Pests
Like most plants, hydroponic hyacinths can be attacked by, different types of insects. Luckily, there are ways to kill of these pests and enjoy a healthy crop.
Here are some common blue hyacinth pests:
Spider mites
These pests attack various plants including blue hyacinth. To deal with these pests, inspect the plants for holes, droppings or discoloured leaves. But if you apply a healthy amount of horticultural oil, you can quickly defeat the mites.
Aphids
As a grower of hydroponic hyacinths, aphids can destroy your crop especially if you allow them to thrive. But you can stop their growth with insecticide soap or horticultural oil.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies come as bad news for growers of hydroponic blue hyacinths. When it comes down to it, these creatures can harm the plants. Instead of covering the plants with insecticides, introduce natural whitefly enemies like a special species of whitefly.
Wrapping Up
You can grow blue hyacinths in a hydroponic setup. If you like, you can plant any of the recommended varieties. But before you have a healthy harvest, take care of the plant. Also, inspect and treat the plant for diseases and pests.
If you need extra advice for the blue hyacinth, visit your local hydroponic supply store. You can also get help from a professional hydroponic blue hyacinth grower.