With hyacinths, this means we can trick them into blooming in the middle of our long, long winters, reminding us what spring is all about. With hyacinths, you even have the option of soil-less forcing. There are special glasses called hyacinth jars that are shaped like an hourglass with an upper area for the bulb and lower section for the water and the roots. All hybrid hyacinths will force in water, but those marked for forcing will preform more reliably. Choose heavy, firm bulbs that will easily fit into the opening in your glass.
Some bulbs are too big, so be careful.
It is important to understand that all hyacinth bulbs will need a long period of cold while actively developing a root system. Too often people misunderstand and end up very disappointed. Hyacinths that are not given adequate time to root will send up a bloom, but it never develops fully and usually opens when barely out of the bulb. Planting the Hyacinths To start the forcing process, simply fill the glass with water to where the level will be just beneath the bottom of the bulb. The water should not touch the bulb or you may develop some rotting problems.