PROPAGATE HYACINTH FLOWER BULBS – Divide clump or remove basal plate

FRAGRANT HYACINTHS ARE EASY TO PROPAGATE ONCE THEY FINISH FLOWERING. MOST OFTEN, THEY MULTIPLY WHILE THEY GROW AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS DIVIDE THE BULBS AND REPLANT OR STORE THEM.

HOW TO PROPAGATE HYACINTH BULBS

METHOD 1 – DIVISION

After Hyacinths have finished flowering, dig out the bulbs carefully while the foliage is still green. This is to ensure that we obtain bulb-lets before they die or rot off due to heat/moisture.
Also, they cannot continue to grow in the same place in full sun once summers arrive.
Some bigger healthier bulbs may have formed smaller child bulbs while others may have not. We will treat them differently accordingly.
Wash off the soil and separate the clumps into smaller units.
Pry open gently and do not pull hard. The roots will separate themselves.
Now plant the main bulb (that was already multiplying) & the bulb-lets in well-draining soil. Ensure that the soil does not allow water to stand by adding sand.
Also, mix in compost for healthier bulbs.

DIVIDE HYACINTH BULBS — PROPAGATE HYACINTH BULBS BY DIVISON

METHOD 2 – PROPAGATION BY CUTTING THE BULBS

Now take the bulbs that were not multiplying & cut off their leaves.
Remove the roots as well.
The lower portion of the bulb is called the “Basal Plate“. This is where the roots grow from.
Now, there are two ways to force multiplication.
First is to cut off the basal plate using a knife and scoop out a bit of flesh.
Second way is to simply make cuts in the basal plate vertically & horizontally. This is to kick start propagation.

PROPAGATE HYACINTH BY CUTTING BASAL PLATE

STORING BULBS WHILE THEY PROPAGATE AND SPROUT NEW SMALL BULBS – MAKING BULBLETS

Take a shallow container filled with moist coco-peat.
Dust some fungicide (baking soda works well) on the cut portion of the bulbs.
Place them upside down in the coco-peat.
Place in a dark place.
Spray occasionally to keep moist.
You will notice small bulb-lets forming in a few weeks.
Plant the bulb outside once this happens.
Do ensure that bulbs are taken out of soil once their leaves die. They will not multiply after that but only rot.