Cut branches forced into bloom can help add sunshine to those gloomy winter days and it is not hard to coax many into flower. Branches from cherry, plum, forsythia, apple, quince, willow, and viburnums can be forced into blooming and used in arrangements. Spring flowering trees and shrubs can be forced into bloom once winter conditions in our gardens have satisfied their dormancy requirements.
With proper conditioning in water, good light and proper temperatures, they will burst into flower 5 days to 2 weeks after cutting. Some plants are quite easy to force into bloom such as forsythia, quince and pussy willow. Not all shrubs, however, are as easy.
Those with late spring blooms such as viburnums, lilac and weigela, are far more difficult. They are best cut close to their regular flowering time. Cherries and plums are excellent forcing specimens especially the old-fashioned purple leaf plum.
Many plants can be forced 1-2 months before their normal flowering. You can start forcing as early as February for many of the earlier flowering selections. March works well for the later flowering ones.
When winter arrives the flower buds are already formed on trees and shrubs. A period of dormancy is required before they will bloom. Plants differ in the amount of chilling, moisture, light and warm temperatures necessary to stimulate the spring flower buds.
By February in most years, winter temperatures have satisfied the flower bud’s dormancy requirement. Once done, you can force bran.