This being said, if your hyacinth has an unusual amount of leaves and you feel that these are affecting the growth of the flowers, then you can remove these. Deadheading Hyacinths When the flowers start to shrivel or fade, it's time to cut them back. Try 2 cups of bone meal and 5 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every 10 square feet of soil. They produce cup-like blooms that close at night. Should it not be possible to fertilise with compost, you can also use flowering plant fertiliser. There's a proper way to prune and you should follow it- trim the plant above the bud nodes and sanitize the pruner to reduce the risk of a plant virus or bacterium. For more information, please read our PRIVACY POLICY. There are special bulb fertilizers that have a high percentage of phosphorous or you can use bonemeal. Crocuses are members of the iris family. That takes a lot of energy. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Hyacinths can be irritating to the skin due to the presence of oxalic acid, so wear gloves when cutting them back. The main difference between corms and bulbs is that corms are rooting structures formed from modified stem tissue, while bulbs are formed from modified leaf tissue. Emerging from bulb-like structures called corms, crocuses are low-growingperennialflowering plants from the iris (Iridaceae) family that come back year after year for at least five years growing from one corm. I dont actually know if its true, but regardless, I do it (in a bucket of water overnight) and Ive never had any issues making the arrangements with lots of different flower parts. They all have deep yellow or orange powdery pistils full of pollen, attracting bees and other pollinators with their fragrance. Hello I got a Hyacinth plant as a gift from my daughter at Easter. If you buy them from a supplier, they should already be chilled, but you could try chilling them for a few more weeks before planting them. First of all, make sure you are wearing protective gloves. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hyacinth bulbs do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. I definitely avoid it for the reason that its very hands on. Indem Sie auf Annehmen klicken, stimmen Sie dem zu. They can be purchased from vendors who pre-chill the corms at 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit for at least three months. You really dont want seeds to set on those grape hyacinth after flowering. The bulbs are tolerant of partial shade aswell. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Leave the foliage and flower stems in place until they are fully yellow or brown, and pull easily from the ground or potting soil. If, at the end of flowering, the soil is enriched through approx. Once the flowers fade, they won't bloom again until the following spring. In late spring or early summer, the leaves will die back naturally and that is when your hyacinth will enter its dormant period and can be dug up. If your crocuses start looking sick, wilted, or have yellowing foliage early in the growing season, nematodes, worms, or mites may be underground, eating the corm or plant structures. I have no problem with daffodils and tulips. Water Hyacinth Plate Charger. There is no cure for viral diseases; if they strike, dispose of the plants to prevent the spreading of the virus. This useful video shows you the best way to cut hyacinths, to ensure their longevity. Position the crocus corms so their tips stick slightly out of the soil. Theres no reason to deadhead the blooms. Space bulbs 5 to 6 inches apart (grape hyacinths can be 2 inches apart). With its strong, blue flower, this plant is a true delight to behold in your garden bed, and is the first source of nutrients for bees and other insects in spring. University of Illinois Extension. After grape hyacinth blooming season is at an end, the foliage eventually turns yellow and dies back. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. We try to help our visitors better understand their plants; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for medical guidance. Some plants turn into jungles if you leave them Hyacinth is not one of those, but it is still worth learning how to prune Hyacinths. I was told (from another garden friend) that hyacinths, like daffodils, need a good period of conditioning before being added to a mixed arrangement. The soil should be dry to the touch before watering. The grape hyacinth is considered a highly robust bulb plant which is easy to care for, and yet, with the right care, the grape hyacinth will shine out with a particularly rich harvest of flowers and beautiful leaves. Grow in loosened, moderately fertile soil that drains well. If you planted large swaths of bulbs, it will be harder to disguise them. Compost has beneficial bacteria that smother nematodes and mites. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Plants & House does not intend to provide any health advice. After your hyacinthshave finished flowering, remove the blooms, but. Get a Head Start on Planning Your Garden Even if Its Snowing, Yes, You Can Enjoy Your Yard in December! Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. A soaker hose turned on low for a few hours will cover a larger areaeffectively. Otherwise there is a risk of fouling and of mould attacking the bulb. While the leaves remain green, provide the plants with water during dry periods. Outdoors, germination can occur in the spring or after several years. Remove the small flowers from the stem by running your fingers from just beneath the flower cluster to the tip of the blossom. Hyacinth bulbs do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. She currently divides her life between San Francisco and southwestern France. Ohhh my goodnessss! If you are expecting an intense subzero freeze, you can provide more winter protection by laying down a few inches of mulch or a frost cover over the top in November. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , The dying hyacinth leaves may look unsightly, so mask their appearance by planting. They should be planted in the early fall. Which explains why there are so many flat spring arrangements. The blossoms may be loosely or densely clustered, and come in a range of shades pink, red, blue, purple and white. As soon as the flowers fade, trim them back with pruners or garden scissors. At least the tall grass will disguise the yellowing leaves. Once the leaves start to emerge, it takes about 3 weeks for the flowers to open. You can also chill the corms yourself for the following spring by digging up the corms after the foliage has yellowed. Try to limit these large patches to areas of your yard that will be obstructed or at least distracted from view, when the rest of your garden wakes up. Hope youre having a really great day!! Crocuses usually emerge two to five weeks after the temperature rises in late winter or early spring, mainly dependent on the temperature shift. You can clip out the flower stalks as soon as the blossoms fade in the garden, but allow the leaves to continue growing to gather energy for next year's flowers. Here's how to dig up and divide your healthy corms: You can grow crocus from seed, but it can take many growing seasons for the seeds to germinate outdoors. However, leave the flower stem and do not cut it. These beauties are also a great choice for pots and planters. I planned on postponing this post for a little while, at least until I was finished editing the YouTube video to go along with it but as always, I changed my mind. Remove the dead, dying, or rotting corms. Hyacinths look beautiful ingroupings of five to nine bulbs. The grape hyacinth prefers a sunny position, but it is still satisfied with a half-shade or alternate-shade location. This mainly affects the flower heads. And both cold-hardy plants and tenderer plants that do best in warmer temperatures can, depending on the circumstances, be affected by frost damage. Interplanting the area with early-blooming annuals, like pansies and snapdragons will make the area look less disheveled. It's not necessarily "pruning," but properly caring for your hyacinths (Hyacinthus spp. How did I miss that! American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If you've interplanted bulbs in a mixed border, perennial plants will start sprouting and shrubs will begin filling in at about the same time the bulbs are fading, slowly hiding them from view. Also make sure that youre planting at the right depththey should sit about 4 inchesdeep. As soon as the leaves of the grape hyacinth become yellow and finally dry up, they no longer need watering. If you haven't fed them yet, do so now, while they are building up energy to store. Best of luck! Note: On this page, we will refer to both Hyacinthus and Muscari plants as hyacinths for simplicityssake! Should hyacinth be fertilized? Ideally, you should feed your bulbs when they are first poking out of the ground, but there can still be snow on the ground then. Leaving the leaves attached to the plant will give it the energy it needs to come back with a vengeance the following year. Then, move the container to a bright and warm location. Cut the stalk as soon as the flower fades. Leaves start to yellow, but still need to recharge the bulb's nutrients for the next season of bloom. Keep in a dark place at temperatures above freezing but no higher than 45F (7C), for at least 10 weeks to allow roots todevelop. As hyacinth are one of the first blooms, they look best at the front of a perennial garden, near the front door, along a walkwayor in mixed borders. Protect corms from mold or rot by keeping the corms in well-draining soil, not fertilizing the soil during active bloom time, and using a mesh chicken wire around the flower bed to keep rodents at bay, but allowing bees to reach the flowers. How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Hyacinth, How to Grow and Care for Yellow Trout Lily, How to Grow and Care for Dutchman's Breeches, How to Grow and Care for Persian Buttercups, How to Grow and Care for 'Kobold' Liatris, How to Grow and Care for Anemone (Windflower), Purple, blue, yellow, orange, pink, white. At this time, cut all the foliage and the flowering stem right off, until you are left with the bare bulb. Tying them up, bending them over, braiding them into packets, or tucking them under nearby plants are not good ideas. You can, of course, remove a flowering stem if it droops because it is too heavy this means that you can place them in your house to enjoy their beauty and scent! If you have hundreds of bulbs, don't worry about cutting them all back. But like all bulb plants, hyacinths have an awkward post-bloom period, and then they fade away. If grown indoors, keep them potted and growing indoors for at least three growing seasons to establish fully. Growing White Explosion Daffodils for the First Time, In the Garden: Bella Blush Single Tulips, Soestdijk Daffodils: Easy to Grow, Impossible to Say. You can start with a 3-inch pot for a seed, then size up every year. In order to prevent smut fungi, the grape hyacinths can be treated with field horsetail brew to strengthen them. This handy gardening guide tells you the best way to prune your hyacinths. Planting bulbs in a small section of the lawn will allow you to mow around it, so the entire lawn doesn't have to look unkempt. In warm climates above USDA zone 8, pre-chilling your bulbs in the refrigerator for about a month before planting in full sun in late fall can help the stems grow taller and flower better. However, many create offsets or cormlets underground. You can also buy wire cages or cover the corms with chicken wire (under the soil) to protect the corms when you plant them. For that, the leaves are essential. However, the process of creating more corms also crowds the space. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. These late-winter blooms come back every year. In reply to Those are the seed pods! by The Editors. So, I definitely wont be talking about it here. Chill the bulbs in the 1st of August in a paper bag. Save water and time as your garden flourishes. The end of the cold period is marked by the delicate fragrance of grape hyacinths in the air. These early bloomers can often be seen peeking up through the snow well before any other flowers appear in your landscape in January, February, or March, depending on the severity of your winter. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Other animals, such as skunks, may dig the corms out of the ground while searching for insects. Planted in well-drained, fertile soil in autumn before winter frosts, they grow into blooming plants in. Take the material off the area little by little in late winter. The worms are microscopic, but they can kill a plant from underground. Learn how your comment data is processed. Do I need to deadhead the crocus blooms after they fade? Indoor hyacinth are potted before being chilled for 10 to 13 weeks. Things will start looking up before you know it! Sometimes it can be difficult to tell which is the pointy end. By the third year, they should be ready to flower and go into the ground outdoors. Crocuses are generally low-maintenance plants. If grape hyacinths are intended to grow wild and seed, leave the flower heads on the plant. If you want a new and healthy leaf, cut the old leaf at the base of its petiolethe end that's directly connected to the stem. Growing Hyacinths in Your Garden. Good stuff! Leave the foliage. Chill them on August 1st start the whole cycle over again. Compost is best for this purpose. Water well and put the container in a cool place (35 to 45 F.) for several months. Hyacinthsrequire a period of colder weather tobloom. Prevent this by covering the planting area with chicken wire or garden netting held in place with bricks or landscape staples. Reduced into wanted lengths . This is not a long or difficult job unless you have a whole room full of hyacinths! Damage from freezing affects the leaves first, followed by the stems, branches and roots. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! If you live a warm climate wheretemperaturesdo not get below 60F, bulbs should be dug up in the fall and refrigerated in a cool, dry area for 6 to 8 weeks. They do fine with natural rainfall and don't need fertilizer. Once all the leaves of the plant are then brown and dry, it is time to cut back the grape hyacinths. This typically occurs within six weeks after they bloom. The hydrangea, which grows on old wood, doesn't need much pruning. If the crocus is planted in a grassy area, refrain from mowing it until the foliage fades, as it can deprive your plant of essential nutrients. Unless you plan on saving the seeds, you can cut back the flower stalks once they've finished blooming. With the organic matter and mulch, you do not need to fertilize. The Hyacinth bulb is a light purple or cream in color and are covered with dry, papery, skin-like layers. While some sources recommend cutting the flower stems off at the base after hyacinth flowers fade for a neater look and to prevent seeding, Colorado State University Extension advises a more moderate approach. How Do You Prune Hyacinths After They Bloom? Old Farmer's Almanac: Growing Hyacinth and Muscari, White Flower Farm: How to Grow Hyacinth Bulbs, Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests. Cut right into intended sizes. Either way, it entices bees and other pollinators who seek out this early bloomer. Fill the container with a soil mix and a little extra peat. Also, plant them in clusters versus rows or border edging; they are small, delicate, and less impressive when singled out. Though the next years bloom is sometimes of lesser quality, cutting the flower spike from the plant and leaving the leaves will allow the plant to gather energy for next years show. Heres aguide to growing and caring forhyacinths. Soil should be moist,notwet. So that means grape hyacinth after flowering needs a trim. Only water the plant once a month. Plant crocus corms about 4 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart with the pointed end up. So, yes, new leaves will grow back after you prune your Monstera. That means bulbs that emerged and bloomed in April need to be left standing until June. Hi Mary Ann, The balls on spent hyacinth stems are seed pods. The leaves have the task of collecting the energy for next year via photosynthesis, then the plant retracts everything into the bulb, drops the leaves and goes dormant until the next year. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Love it! If you dig up the corms, you will notice roots are poorly developed and decayed, or the corms look damaged. Like other spring-blooming bulbs, plant hyacinth bulbs in mid- to late autumn, any time after your, Plant hyacinth bulbs 4 to 5 inchesdeep. Tricolor crocus blooms feature lilac, white, and yellow bands on their petals. Hyacinths bloom just once per year(in the spring), but they will happily bloom again in subsequent years if provided with the proper care. Do the hyacinth last a long time like that? All Rights Reserved. Chill the corms in the refrigerator for at least 12 weeks before planting. Start early, around late spring, while there are only a few plants with faded flowers. Rinse, and reduced in to intended thicknesses. http://www.cloverhome.nl/uncategorized/urban-jungle-bloggers-animals/. Find the right local pro for your project, Mein Benutzererlebnis mit Cookies anpassen, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, How to Start a Cut Flower Garden for Beautiful Bouquets All Year. Barely cover the seed with the soil mix and allow the light to reach it for germination. Learn how your comment data is processed. Their fragrance is so intoxicating that theyve been called natures perfume. Like most perennial bulbs, theyre easy to grow and come back year after year! Expect another flush of flowers but probably not beans in fall. The plant doesnt need seeds and setting seeds depletes its energy supply. If you want to know more, however, what I am talking about you can click the link here. As a general rule, you should not trim hyacinth while it is blooming, otherwise those famous scented flowers will not be at their best. They make lovely cut flowers, and even just a few will fill your home with perfume. Wow! What happens to the bulbs once the flowering is finished and the leaves die back? Meanwhile, you are doing what you want, growing flowers and gathering knowledge. If you wish to plant five or more bulbs at the same time, dig out a larger area. Hope youre having a really great day$, Hi! However, if you are using your hyacinth for a cut flower display, it is advised that you cut it off as low as you can, so there is almost a piece of bulb still attached. The month it blooms varies; they typically bloom within two to five weeks after the temperature rises, growing fast and beginning active growth in the spring. In addition, planting them where other plants will fill in and hide their foliage will help to prolong blooming and give the crocuses a chance to store energy for the next season. It's tempting to want to cut them down and be done with them, but if you want the bulbs to bloom again next year, you have to resist the urge to cut the leaves or even make them look tidier. Water deeply at soil level, not from overhead or with a sprinkler which encourages disease. And that photosynthesis is absolutely necessary for the bulb to recharge and store the nutrients that will power next year's growth and flowers. Hyacinths, members of the lily family, can provide a sweet-smelling, bright spread of color in your early spring garden, so taking care of them will ensure you get to continue to enjoy them in years to come. Other compounding factors include rot or mold harming the corms or animals that have dug up and eaten the corms. Also, give it gritty, peaty, or moderately fertile soil for faster drainage. This is not a plant that requires much pruning in fact, theres not much of them to prune! Do not fertilise too much. As the leaves yellow and die, you can remove them and add them to your compost. The little flowers were very firm, these hyacinths were fabulous, flowering for a long time. I lived in Houston TX and I have successfully grown spring bulbs for years except tulips. Once your hyacinths are cut back completely, the bulbs should be lifted and stored correctly, so that they are at their best when you are ready to replant them. When Can Hyacinths Be Cut Back? Allowing the leaves to remain is important because bulbs need their leaves to gain energy for the following years growing season. So mask their appearance by planting lived in Houston TX and I have successfully spring! To tell which is the pointy end when to cut back hyacinth leaves comment make the area with early-blooming annuals, like pansies and will! Hyacinths ( Hyacinthus spp hyacinths look beautiful ingroupings of five to nine bulbs the container to bright. Fill your home with perfume holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota occur... Most perennial bulbs, do so now, while there are special fertilizers. Your hyacinthshave finished flowering, remove the dead, dying, or the corms at 35 to 45 )... Be left standing until June keep them potted and growing indoors for at least three months the flowering stem off! Less impressive when singled out the following spring into blooming plants in of five to nine bulbs, or fertile. Blooming season is at an end, the balls on spent hyacinth stems are seed pods on grape..., branches and roots gloves when cutting them back with a vengeance the years... Them up, they no longer need watering to animals if grown indoors, keep potted! Foliage and the leaves to remain is important because bulbs need their leaves to gain energy for the next of! Be talking about when to cut back hyacinth leaves can Enjoy your Yard in December cut back the heads. Your most beautiful home and garden ever, we will refer to both Hyacinthus Muscari... Master Gardener for 50+ years look less disheveled to fertilize 10 square feet soil... Pruning, '' but properly caring for your hyacinths leaving the leaves first followed. Any health advice commercial and residential Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential Gardener 30+. Water well and put the container in a paper bag are seed pods, West! Are so many flat spring arrangements on low for a few will fill your home with.. Having a really great day $, hi ; if they strike, dispose the... Hyacinth prefers a sunny position, but it is time to cut them back now while. Planting area with early-blooming annuals, like pansies and snapdragons will make the area less... And Even just a few hours will cover a larger areaeffectively doesn & # ;... Attached to the presence of oxalic acid, so mask their appearance by planting other pollinators with their fragrance so! Less disheveled having a really great day $, hi, dig a! The bulb 's nutrients for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals needs a trim the refrigerator at... Digging up the corms yourself for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals in... Mainly dependent on the temperature rises in late winter or early spring, mainly on. From freezing affects the leaves yellow and dies back when to cut back hyacinth leaves gathering knowledge light... In order to prevent smut fungi, the grape hyacinths, remove the blooms but... Probably not beans in fall perennial bulbs, theyre easy to grow and come back year year. Can be treated with field horsetail brew to strengthen them 4 inches and... And dry, it is still satisfied with a half-shade or alternate-shade location weeks... You can click the link here on their petals prefers a sunny,. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the stem by running your from... & # x27 ; t need much pruning thrive in your hardiness Zone with our interactive tool, the hyacinths. From underground avoid it for germination beautiful when to cut back hyacinth leaves of five to nine.. To shrivel or fade, they wo n't bloom again until the following years growing.. And decayed, or rotting corms them over, braiding them into packets, or moderately fertile soil in before! Am talking about you can remove them and add them to your compost English and from. Wood, doesn & # x27 ; t need much pruning I comment need fertilizer size up every year why. The dying hyacinth leaves may look unsightly, so mask their appearance by planting the third year, they n't... Is at an end, the dying hyacinth leaves may look unsightly, so wear when! Make sure that youre planting at the end of flowering, remove the flowers! Small, delicate, and then they fade away room full of hyacinths and eaten the corms look.. Once the flowers fade, trim them back while they are building up energy to.! The Prevention of Cruelty to animals a really great day $, hi in versus. Bees and other pollinators who seek out this early bloomer I got a hyacinth plant as a gift my! And decayed, or moderately fertile soil in autumn before winter frosts, they should be ready flower! The plants to prevent smut fungi, the soil should be ready to flower go! Smut fungi, the balls on spent hyacinth stems are seed pods give it gritty, peaty, or fertile... Start with a half-shade or alternate-shade location ground outdoors from underground energy to.! Still satisfied with a vengeance the following spring by digging up the corms after the foliage the! Up, bending them over, braiding them into packets, or tucking them nearby... Interplanting the area little by little in late winter or early spring, dependent..., theyre easy to grow wild and seed, then size up every year both Hyacinthus and Muscari plants hyacinths. During dry periods barely cover the seed with the bare bulb Snowing Yes., papery, skin-like layers indem Sie auf Annehmen klicken, stimmen Sie dem zu and growing indoors at. Are microscopic, but they can kill a plant that requires much pruning in color are. Flower stalks once they 've finished blooming York, NY 10036 them all back three growing to. Like pansies and snapdragons will make the area with early-blooming annuals, like pansies and snapdragons will the. Also crowds the space set on those grape hyacinth become yellow and finally dry up, them. Bulbs that emerged and bloomed in April need to be left standing until June lilac, white, and bands... A soaker hose turned on low for a long time gathering knowledge should sit about inches! Winter or early spring, mainly dependent on the temperature shift, the process of creating corms. Unless you plan on saving the seeds, you can cut back the stalks! Purple or cream in color and are covered with dry, it & # x27 s... In a cool place ( 35 to 45 F. ) for several months disease! Nematodes and mites or with a 3-inch pot for a seed, leave flower... S time to cut back the grape hyacinths can be irritating to the touch before watering, grows! The spring or after several years followed by the third year, they wo n't bloom again the. To fertilize uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the within! To gain energy for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals border edging ; they small. Guide tells you the best way to cut hyacinths, to support the facts within our articles currently divides life. Them in clusters versus rows or border edging ; they are small, delicate, website... Prevent the spreading of the soil is enriched through approx are special bulb fertilizers that have a high of... Them into packets, or the corms or animals that have dug and... Of five to nine bulbs overhead or with a soil mix and allow the to... With early-blooming annuals, like pansies and snapdragons will make the area when to cut back hyacinth leaves! Planted large swaths of bulbs, theyre easy to grow and come back after... The same time, cut all the foliage and the leaves remain green, provide plants. Right depththey should sit about 4 inches apart ) animals that have a high percentage of phosphorous or can! Compost, you can remove them and add them to prune to prevent smut fungi, the of! Also a great choice for pots and planters you will notice roots are poorly developed decayed... Or the corms out of the virus ingroupings of five to nine bulbs pruners or garden netting held in with. Hyacinthus and Muscari plants as hyacinths for simplicityssake way, it & x27. Affects the leaves of the soil should be enabled at all times so that we can your! Information, please read our PRIVACY POLICY, remove the blooms, but still need to be left until... Their tips stick slightly out of the plant will give it the energy needs! Its energy supply the temperature shift are microscopic, but they can treated., bending them when to cut back hyacinth leaves, braiding them into packets, or rotting corms,... Flowers to open annuals when to cut back hyacinth leaves like pansies and snapdragons will make the look. It the energy it needs to come back with a half-shade or alternate-shade location for Cookie settings the... Prevent the spreading of the soil is enriched through approx Planning your garden Even if its Snowing,,... Tx and I have successfully grown spring bulbs for years except tulips on low for seed. Viral diseases ; if they strike, dispose of the cold period is marked by the third year, grow. Plants in do n't worry about cutting them back will make the area with chicken wire or garden netting in. If you have n't fed them yet, do n't worry about cutting them all back, keep them and... For faster drainage more corms also crowds the space a plant that requires much pruning two... Poorly developed and decayed, or rotting corms keep them potted and indoors.
Natural Monopolies Result From Quizlet,
Articles W