The house always looks so bare after the holiday decorations are packed away. Color would be nice, but in January and February we are still in the grips of winter, which gives everything a white, sterile look. The good news is, with the coming of January it's possible to bring in branches from a flowering tree and force them to bloom indoors in vases. This adds an instant touch of spring when many of us need it most.

Branch Selection

The best branches for indoor flowering or those varieties that set buds in fall and typically flower in late winter or early spring naturally. Willows, forsythia and witch hazel are just a few options for indoor forcing. Later in the winter you can take branches from apples, cherries and rhododendrons.

Method

Cut 12- to 18-inch branches from a section of the tree or shrub where the missing branch won't have a noticeable impact. Slit the cut end of the branch and place it in a vase of lukewarm bucket. Keep the branches in a 60 to 65 degree location where they receive bright but indirect light. Mist the branches daily with water to keep the humidity up in the area around them.

The branches usually begin to flower within a couple weeks. Change out the water throughout the forcing period if it begins to look cloudy or discolor. Once the branches begin blooming you can transfer them to a flower arrangement or a more decorative container. Depending on the variety, the branches may bloom for two weeks or longer.