The question of whether hyacinth can grow in water depends entirely on the specific plant being discussed. Growing plants outside of soil, often called hydroponics, is a common technique used for many species, including a popular spring-blooming favorite. This process requires careful preparation and differs significantly from the natural growth habit of another plant that shares the same common name. Understanding this distinction is necessary to successfully cultivate either variety.
Defining the Two Types of Hyacinth
The term “hyacinth” commonly refers to two distinctly different plants from separate plant families. The first is the garden hyacinth, Hyacinthus orientalis, a fragrant, spring-flowering bulb traditionally grown in soil. The second is the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, a tropical, free-floating aquatic plant that thrives naturally in freshwater environments. Their biological classification means their relationship with water is fundamentally opposite: one is a terrestrial bulb grown over water, while the other is a true aquatic species that must live in water.
How to Force Garden Bulbs in Water
The process of growing the garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) in water is known as “forcing,” which tricks the bulb into blooming earlier. This technique begins with a chilling period necessary to simulate winter conditions and initiate flowering. The bulb requires 13 to 14 weeks stored at temperatures between 35°F and 48°F before it is ready for water culture.
Special hourglass-shaped forcing vases are often used, or a regular glass container can be filled with decorative pebbles to support the bulb. The setup is precise: the water level must be just below the basal plate of the bulb, without the bulb itself touching the water. Direct contact causes the bulb to rot, so a separation of about 1/4 inch is necessary for the roots to grow into the moisture.
The prepared bulb and vase must then be placed in a cool, dark location, such as a basement or a refrigerator, to allow the root system to develop fully. This dark conditioning period typically lasts several weeks until the vase is filled with roots and the green shoot reaches a height of about two inches. The bulb contains all the nutrients needed for one bloom cycle, and the emerging roots draw the necessary moisture for growth. Check the water level frequently during this time, ensuring it remains just below the base of the bulb to prevent the roots from drying out.
Caring for Water-Grown Bulbs
Once the roots are established and the shoot has grown, the bulb is ready to be moved into a brighter environment to encourage flowering. The transition should be gradual, moving the vase first to a cool location with indirect light (50°F to 60°F). This slow introduction prevents the stem from growing too quickly and becoming spindly. When the flower bud starts to show color, the plant can be moved to its final display location, ideally a cool room with bright, indirect light.
Avoiding excessive heat is a primary concern during the blooming phase, as high temperatures will cause the flowers to fade very quickly. Continuing to top up the water level to maintain the critical distance from the bulb base is the only ongoing maintenance required. Forced hyacinths expend all their stored energy to produce the indoor bloom. For this reason, they are discarded once the flower has faded, as they are unlikely to recover and flower well again.
The Characteristics of True Water Hyacinth
The true water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is a naturally free-floating perennial herb. It is structurally designed for aquatic life, featuring buoyant, bulbous leaf stems (petioles) filled with air to keep the plant afloat. This species grows rapidly in warm, nutrient-rich freshwater, often forming dense, interconnected mats. Under ideal conditions, the population can double in size in as little as six to 15 days.
The plant produces showy, lavender to purple flowers on a spike that rises above the water, emerging from the floating rosette. Because of its aggressive growth and ability to cover large expanses of water, the water hyacinth is classified as an invasive species in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Its dense growth can block sunlight from reaching native aquatic life and impede water flow, contrasting sharply with the forced garden bulb.