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5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: 585-473-5130
Fax: 585-472-8136
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-4pm
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Civic Garden Center 1999-2009 ©.
All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction
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Forcing Branches
by Christine Froehlich
Most of us long for a respite from winter about now. If you’re looking for an inexpensive
flower fix, consider forcing branches. It’s not difficult and you can usually find something
right in your own yard. Forsythia, apple, cherry and quince are a few that are easily available,
but just about any type of flowering tree or shrub can be forced if it would naturally
bloom in spring. If you happen to be out pruning, so much the better, just save some of your
cuttings and bring them inside.
If you’d like to give it a try, follow this method:
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1.) Choose a day when the temperature is above freezing and cut branches so they’re at least 12
inches long.
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Remove the side branches near the base of the stem.
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2.) Bring branches inside. Make a 45 degree cut at the base of each stem and put them in a
sturdy container.
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3.) Add a few inches of warm water and add a plant supplement like Superthrive.
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4.) Keep the water topped off and replace with fresh solution once a week.
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5.) Keep branches out of direct sunlight. North facing windows are best.
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6.) Blooms time varies depending on the variety you choose but generally you can figure
on about 4-6 weeks.
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Below are some examples of spring blooms you could force:
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Apricot
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Crabapple
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Plum
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Pear
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Forsythia
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Magnolia
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