Forcing flowering branches to bloom is one of the easiest ways to bring spring inside! Includes easy instructions on how and when to cut your branches and tips on arranging them.
This time of year I always try to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. Especially when Mother Nature smacks me upside the head with a few snowballs like she did last weekend.
And one of my favorite ways to do this is by forcing flowering branches to bloom indoors. Yes, tree branches inside the house!!!
And it's so easy it's silly!
How To Force Flowering Branches Indoors:
When To Cut
- You can cut branches in late winter before buds are showing and wait and wait and wait for them to bloom.
- Or as I prefer, wait until spring to cut the branches when you see buds just starting to plump up and almost open. Much less wait time for your blooms!
- The closer you cut the branch to its natural bloom time, the quicker the flowers will bloom inside the house for you.
How To Cut
- Use clean, sharp hand pruners
- Make the cut down at the bottom, right above where the branch meets a larger branch (see 1st first photo below)
- Cut at an angle
- Remove any small twigs and leaves close to the bottom of the branch
- Hitting the base of the cut stem with a hammer to squash open the branch a bit helps the branch to absorb more water (see 2nd photo below)
How To Arrange
- Arrange branches in tall vases, canisters or narrow mouthed jugs. Mason jars work just fine also!
- Fill vases with a few inches of water and keep the water fresh.
- Putting your arrangements in a cool spot out of direct sunlight can help to make the blooms last longer.
Speaking of great vases, Manuela from A Cultivated Nest has a great idea of turning a glass apple juice jug into a stunning Pottery Barn inspired vase for spring branches.
Source: A Cultivated Nest
I checked and my local Krogers has glass jugs of apple juice in their healthy/organic/tastes-like-cardboard foods section. You can also buy the juice in glass jugs at Whole Foods.
Branches That Produce Lovely Blooms
- Dogwood
- Apple
- Crabapple
- Cherry
- Pear
- Mock Orange
- Flowering Quince
- Magnolia
- Lilac
- Forsythia
- Pussy Willow
(the flowers in this photo are crabapple)
Have you forced flowering branches before? What's you favorite one to force?
And BTW, forcing sounds so violent! It's such a harsh word for such a pretty thing!
You can view the web story version of this article HERE.
Other posts you may enjoy:
Making Tulips Last Longer: No More Drooping
DIY Easter Eggs: Vintage Style
DIY Reusable Bowl Covers & Food Wrap (with beeswax)
Old Fashioned Flowers For Your Garden
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Janet
So beautiful Pam and sadly we don't have any flowering branches way down south here. Forced to faux!
Marion
Hi, I have forsythia in leaf, I will bring that indoors, I have done it many times, such a pretty yellow!
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner
I am totally trying this idea! We just moved to a rental house and I am pretty sure there is a dogwood tree in the backyard.
Also, for the glass jug there is a yummy brand of Moscato sangria that I've seen at Kroger that just so happens to be in a beautiful blue tinted jug. Just thought you may want to keep on the lookout for it. I have several of the jugs throughout my home 🙂
Vickie
The photos of your flowering branches are gorgeous, Pam! I'm sorry to say, but my choices of branches are now limited since we had to cut down our flowering crab and apple tree. Sniff, sniff.
taryterre
Only tried it once and one of the walls in my house filled with teeny tiny bugs. Took forever to get rid of them. I have no luck bringing the outdoors in. But I wish I had your green thumb. Those flowering branches look lovely, indeed.
Pam
Oh no, I've never had a bug issue before! Maybe it's best to keep the outdoors outside in your case!
Diana Petrillo
Great instructions Pam! I've never tried it, but I feel that I should 🙂
Brenda Kula-Pruitt
That is just beautiful! I can't believe I've never done this.
Brenda
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
So pretty, Pam! I've never tried this, but my cherry tree is looking ready...maybe I'll cut some from the apple trees, too. Thanks! Glad you are feeling better!
Pam
Give it a try. My crabapple blooms normally last a few weeks!