I recently wrote about my poor, confused forsythia that insists on opening some of its flowers in late autumn. The sight of those flowers makes me both happy (at the thought of spring), sad (that spring is so very far away) and confused (because I just can’t figure out what’s going on with that plant).

For the past few years to remedy a bit of my winter blues, I’ve been forcing branches from my witch hazel in late winter. It’s always a thrill to see the flowers unfurl while there’s still snow on the ground, whether they’re indoors in a vase or outdoors in February or March. So, this year I decided to try my luck at forcing forsythia branches.

December is a bit early in the season to force branches to bloom since they need a period of cold temperatures to initiate their blooming cycle once the warmer weather returns. Still, I thought I might have some luck since these forsythia seem inclined to show off some flowers months ahead of schedule anyway.

A little over a week or so ago, I clipped several good sized branches, brought them indoors and, after recutting and opening up the ends a bit, put them in some lukewarm water and paced them in bright, indirect light. And I waited and watched and was rewarded with flowers.

If you’re interested in forcing branches, I encourage you to give it a try. It’s really not difficult to do. You’ve probably got a shrub or tree that’s suitable for forcing right in your own backyard. No forsythia or witch hazel? You can try flowering quince, rhododendrons/azaleas, lilacs, crab apples/apples or cherries. In general, you’ll have better luck forcing flowers to bloom earlier in winter that bloom earliest in spring. Save late spring bloomers for forcing later in winter. The earlier in the season you take cuttings to force, the longer it may take for flowers to open.

First, unless you have an over-achieving forsythia like mine or won’t be discouraged if your first attempt takes a long time to flower or doesn’t flower at all, give the shrubs a chance to get a bit of rest while enjoying 6-8 weeks of cold weather. In late January, take a look around your yard. If you have forsythia or witch hazel, bring your pruners with you. Gather a few branches and bring them indoors – just be sure to remember that the branches you prune now won’t be there to flower in the spring.

Practicing good pruning methods means using clean, sharp pruners and keeping in mind the effect on the future shape and growth of the tree or shrub. If there are branches that are rubbing against other branches or are growing contrary to the shape you want the shrub or tree to grow, those would be good choices to prune for indoor forcing.

You’ll also want to select branches with enough fat buds to result in a good show of flowers. Round-shaped buds are more likely to be flower buds than those with a more pointed shape.  

Get a container with lukewarm water ready, then recut the ends of the cuttings at a sharp angle and either lightly crush the ends with a hammer or cut into the ends with a sharp knife to open the ends a bit to increase water intake. As soon as you’ve prepared the ends, put the cuttings in the water-filled container.

Place the container with your cuttings in indirect light. My forsythia cuttings spent their days near an Aerogarden with its grow lights on for some African violet leaves I’m rooting, but a north facing window works well, too. Replace the water with room temperature water every few days to keep it clear of bacteria growth.  

Now comes the hard part. Patience may be a virtue, but it’s not an easy one unless you find the look of the arrangement of branches pleasing just as they are. Even if you do, the first sight of flowers is sure to make your day. It certainly did mine when I found forsythia in bloom in my dining room in December.

Today is December 26^th and there are 84 days until spring – except in my dining room where a bit of spring has already arrived.