When I’m impatient for winter to end I like to hurry the season along a little by bringing a little spring into my house. I do this by cutting some branches from different trees in our yard. Forcing is the process of causing a plant to flower before its natural season.

The process is easy and fun. It’s a great way to get a taste of spring while you wait for the long winter (at least here in the north) to end for the year.

The little buds on our forsythia are about to pop, so I quickly got outside and cut a few branches earlier this week.

I brought these branches inside Tuesday morning and they are already starting to bud out. The pussy willows on the left are showing white tips too.

When I first started to force branches years ago, I only cut forsythia. The following years I started bringing in other branches from trees in our yard.

Now I bring in cuttings from our apple trees and crab apple tree.

I took a few minutes to write out the “how-to” instructions below to start your own forcing. Here in Minnesota now is the perfect time! These instructions are a bit more involved than what I did this year — which is just cutting and sticking in warm water — so we’ll see how the budding and blooming goes!

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How to force branches to bloom inside

Simple how to instructions

Equipment

sharp pair of pruning shears
bucket
Optional flower preservative (or make your own by combining 1 teaspoon sugar | 1 teaspoon household bleach | 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice | 1 quart lukewarm water).

Instructions

Pick a day that is above freezing and cut the forsythia stems in lengths that will fit in your vase (or about 2 feet or less)
Put the stems in a bucket of warm water. Allow the stems to soak up the warm water for several hours. Change the water in the bucket and mix in some floral preservative.
Place the branches in your container and place in a sunlight spot.
Mist the branches occasionally and if the water turns cloudy change it with fresh water.
Continue with the misting and changing water until the buds begin to bloom. It will take about two -three weeks.

Notes

The best time for force branches in colder climates is mid to late February. If March continues to be cold — you can force later into the month.

Pin the photo below to help you remember to next spring too!

I started my branches earlier this week and they are already starting to bud. While working on this post I remembered I haven’t cut branches from the crab apple — so I’m heading out there now!

If you give forcing a try, I’d love to see your blooms! Tag me on Instagram at thiscottagelife