Hyacinth

Did you know that the hyacinth's name comes from a Greek demigod? According to Greek mythology, both Apollo and Zephyr were in love with Hyakinthos. When Hyakinthos chose Apollo over Zephyros, the latter became angry. On the day Hyakinthos was teaching Apollo how to throw a discus, he was hit by a discus blown off course by the god Zephyros and died. Out of grief, Apollo created the flower hyacinth from his lover's blood as a memorial to his death.

The perfect temperature

The ideal temperature for the hyacinth is between 16 and 18 degrees, if you want the flowering to last a little longer place the plant in a cooler place at night.

How much water?

Regular watering is fine, the soil should remain slightly moist. If the stem starts to water on one side, just support it with a flower stick.

The right spot!

The hyacinth likes a lot of light but not direct sunlight (in the Netherlands this is not a big problem during winter). The windowsill or a living room with lots of light is perfect!

Let it flower longer!

If you notice that the hyacinth blooms prematurely, you can stop the flowering by putting the plant in the fridge and keeping the soil moist. To get flowering going again, simply remove the plant from the fridge and let it return to room temperature.

The hyacinth often has a strong scent that can be problematic for many people with allergies. If you still want to enjoy this beautiful plant, you can go for white hyacinths. These often have milder scents than other varieties.

The hyacinth is poisonous as a whole, but mainly the bulbs and seeds. The plant is not fit for consumption and can cause abdominal pain, itching and vomiting if ingested.