Prepared Hyacinth bulb Pink Pearl produces spikes of sweetly scented pink flowers in time for Christmas if you plant them by October at the latest.

Prepared Indoor hyacinth bulbs for Christmas flowers If you love to have flowers indoors at Christmas time NOW is the right time to order prepared indoor bulbs for forcing for Christmas.

Plant the bulbs in containers of bulb fibre, plant with the tip of the bulbs showing above the compost; hyacinths need a cool spell and a period of dark to replicate winter dormancy followed by warm bright conditions to fool the bulbs into thinking its spring.

To get them to flower for Christmas leave them in a cool cupboard or garage for around 10 weeks, keep them watered and bring into a warm, light position as soon as flower buds emerge.

Aftercare indoors Turn the pots regularly to prevent the stems from leaning towards the light and, as the stems emerge, give them some support to prevent them flopping. You can do this with canes and string but the coloured stems of cornus or willow tied with natural raffia or narrow ribbon, look particularly attractive.

After flowering

After the bulbs have flowered indoor hyacinths can be planted outside in a sheltered position.