You can go to a florist and buy these blooming branches, or you can save yourself some cash and go out and clip them yourself. Blooms to force Lots of trees and shrubs make good candidates for forcing blooms, from apple to witch hazel. Timing is important if you're going to do it early, but by March nearly all varieties are ready for cutting. Silky pussy willow buds can be forced in February, and as a bonus the branches can be dried to preserve the buds once they open. Other varieties that can be cut to bloom indoors include mountain laurel, dogwood, magnolia, rhododendron, scotch broom and Hawthorn.
Pear trees are excellent candidates for forcing, producing fragrant white blossoms.
Forsythia is probably the easiest species to force. If you're not sure when a bush or tree is ready to cut, take a good look at the buds on the branches. Cutting advice Use good sharp pruning shears when cutting branches, as a clean cut ensures the buds will get water. Then, change the water frequently, especially after the branches bloom, to make them last. Her advice is to use a hammer to smash the cut ends of the branches to increase the uptake of water to the buds.