Can You Transplant Grape Hyacinth

Grape Hyacinth is a beautiful perennial in the lily family. Blooming in mid-spring, they look like reeds or lemongrass with bunches of grapes on the top. Since they are perennials, they will continue to bloom year after year. They will stop blooming when they are overcrowded and need to be transplanted.

You can transplant grape hyacinths whenever you feel you need to move them, though it is recommended to do so in late summer or early fall. Luckily, they are a very hardy and rugged plant that takes to transplanting very easily. 

To learn more about transplanting grape hyacinth, when to do it, where to do it, and more, you’ve come to the right place!

When To Transplant Grape Hyacinth

Grape Hyacinth is a very invasive plant. This means that it will take over any area it is in; however, when it becomes too crowded for the roots to stretch out, the plant will cease blooming. This is a good time to know when to transplant your flowers. Another rule of thumb is that grape hyacinth will get to this overcrowded point every 3-5 years, so around then is a good time to consider transplanting around then. 

Technically, you can transplant grape hyacinth anytime you want. You can even transplant it while it’s in bloom, you have to be more careful of the blooms, and they may not last as long. For hyacinths, it is necessary for a period of cold before they begin to grow again and recreate new flowers. This is why it is recommended to transplant them during their “sleep” time, so fall or late summer, but you can also do so before they bloom in the early spring. However, it has been tested that the bulbs are stronger and make for better plants when transplanted in the fall. 

How To Transplant Grape Hyacinth 

Before transplanting a grape hyacinth, it is important to know the dynamics of the plant. Everything above ground is connected to smaller bulbs underground, which all root back to the mother bulb. Here are some tips for transplanting grape hyacinth.

1. Because grape hyacinth grows in clusters, you will want to dig around an entire cluster.
2. Break apart the cluster after you’ve dug around it; you’ll see where each offshoot starts after you dig it up, and it’s fairly easy to break apart.
3. Replant the clusters in shallow holes; they don’t need to be too deep in the ground, around 3-5 inches. 
4. The clusters also don’t need to be close together; you can plant them about 5 inches apart. If you break off the smallest cluster, it may not be able to survive on its own. 
5. Grape hyacinths do better in well-draining soil and don’t like to be too waterlogged. Water the hole before placing the bulb in, then do a splash of topwater after it’s been planted. If it is a rainy spring, you may not even need to water them after that, but make sure they get around 1 inch of water a week. 

Can Grape Hyacinth Be Planted Indoors?

Forcing grape hyacinth indoors is possible; however not very common to have as a house plant. Hyacinths rely heavily on the weather to know when to bloom, so creating that environment in your house may be tricky if you want your plant to bloom. Below are some tips for growing grape hyacinth inside.

1. Keeping in mind that grape hyacinth needs to chill to bloom, keeping them cold (35-50 degrees) for around 13 weeks is necessary for their cycle to continue. 
2. Most people who have hyacinths indoors will refrigerate the bulbs for their cold period, then transfer them to pots. While germinating, keep this pot in a darker area for at least two weeks or until they’re a few leaves sprouting. 
3. Once leaves have begun to sprout, move the plant to a spot that gets as much sunlight as possible, as this will help the blooming process.
4. Hyacinths that are indoors are usually not perennials, and they will be done after one bloom or one season. They are treated as annuals, and the plant will have to be removed after its bloom. 

Can Grape Hyacinth Be Planted In Pots?

Just like being planted indoors, it is possible, but it’s not the ideal condition for the plant. Remember, grape hyacinths like to spread their roots and vine out. Being confined to a pot may stunt their growth, and they may not bloom after so long. You may find that grape hyacinth can be happy in a pot for up to three years, and after that time, stop blooming. It is good to put it directly into the ground if you want the plant to continue to bloom each year. 

Growing Grape Hyacinth in Water

You can grow hyacinth indoors by using the water method to sprout your bulb. Maybe you have seen this method with an avocado pit, but the idea is the same. Use toothpicks to pierce the sides of the bulb and rest it over a cup so the roots hit the water, but the bulb stays dry. 

There are specialty hyacinth glasses you can purchase to make this process easier. The glass is shaped like an hourglass, and the bulb sits in one part, with the roots in the water in the other part. The point of this is all to keep the bulb from staying wet, which will make for a healthier plant in the long run. Freezing your bulb before this process still applies. 

Final Thoughts

Grape hyacinths are easy, hardy flowers to grow with a beautiful fragrance that adds a wonderful splash of color to your gardens. If you treat them right, these flowers can last ages, but it doesn’t take much to keep hyacinths happy. If you want them to keep blooming year after year, it is very important to transplant them after a while, usually three years or so. Otherwise, they’ll do their own thing. Happy gardening!