I never want to let the gray days of winter to start givin’ me the blues. So I do my best to add a bit of color to my days. If you’re like me, and you’re lucky enough to have a forsythia—a glorious harbinger of spring—in your yard, then here’s how you can bring a little bit of sunshine into your home right now:
- As soon as the temps have climbed above freezing for a day or two, snip off a few branches and bring them inside. Choose branches that have the most buds, and make a clean cut, flush against the trunk of the tree so that no stub is left. This encourages quick healing with little danger of insect or disease damage.
- After gathering the branches, crush or split the lower stems a few inches from the bottom.
- Place the cuttings in a bucket of warm water, and leave them in a cool place (60-65°F). After several hours, change the water. Cut another inch off stems underwater to promote better intake.
- All you have to do now is give them sun and change the water every few days, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful yellow blooms in 2 to 3 weeks.
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