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    Posie Fields

    Quince - Cameo

    Quince - Cameo

    $42.50 USD
    $42.50 USD
    Sale Sold out

    Quince - Cameo

    Heralding the arrival of spring, the Cameo Quince puts on a spectacular early through the mid-spring display of abundant and beautiful double blossoms with peachy orange-pink petals. Its 3.5" oblong dark green and glossy leaves unfold after the flowers and then small, fragrant yellow to green fruits (2" diameter) appear in late spring and summer ripening in fall. The fruits are edible however, beware as they are quite bitter when eaten directly from the bush. The fruits are best used for jellies and preserves. 

    Cut branches of Cameo Quince are excellent for indoor flower arrangements. When buds have formed on branches in late winter, just cut a branch and bring it indoors to force buds to open. 

     

    Cutting

    1. Cut flowering quince branches with a generous number of swelling buds. Branches measuring approximately 12 inches in length are preferable. Bring the branches indoors, and then hold each stem under water and re-cut the bottom. Re-cutting the branch underwater ensures that the branch absorbs water and prevents air from entering the branch, thus prolonging the life of the flowering quince branch. Remove leaves on the lower end of the branch, as leaves submerged in water rot, becoming smelly and decreasing the life of the blooms.

      Conditioning

      1. To condition white flowering quince branches, place each branch on a solid surface and hammer the end of the stem. This step helps the woody stem take up water more effectively. Place the branch in a bucket of water immediately, and then put the bucket of branches in a cool room where temperatures are between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid bright sunlight, which can result in stunted, misshapen blooms that open too soon. Flowering quince branches require a minimum of one to two weeks before blooming occurs.

      Care

      1. When the buds open and the flowers appear, it's safe to bring the white flowering quince branches into normal indoor room temperatures. Check the vase daily and replenish the water as needed, since budding white flowering quince branches absorb a large amount of water, and keeping the water fresh results in long-blooming branches.

      Tips

      1. When cutting a large quince branch, don't cut the branch too near the trunk. Instead, allow 2 to 3 inches of the branch to remain on the plant, as the protrusion allows the cut area to heal rapidly. If temperatures are just above or below 32 degrees when you cut the flowering quince branch, immerse the branch in a bucket of lukewarm water overnight and then condition the branches the following morning. This gentle warming stimulates early spring temperatures and forces the branch to bloom ahead of its normal schedule. To discourage the growth of bacteria in the vase, add 1 tablespoon of bleach for each 1 gallon of water.

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