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How To Grow Paperwhites

As a gardener, I often notice myself looking for ways to continue growing and enjoying beautiful blooms deep into the winter months.  The perfect way to do this is by forcing bulbs indoors.  Forcing bulbs is basically when you trick the bulb into flowering by giving it an environment that imitates conditions that naturally occur outdoors.  By giving the bulb these same conditions with warm temperature and sunlight indoors, it stimulates the plant to grow.  This process is very easy to do and has rewarding results!  

Some of the most popular bulbs to force are paperwhites and amaryllis flowers.  With the holiday season upon us, these indoor flowers also make a great addition to your holiday decor.  Adding the gorgeous floral display to a festive centerpiece makes for an eye catching presentation.  Sometimes getting all the supplies around this time of year at your local garden center can prove to be challenging.  Luckily, I'm happy to share that Longfield Gardens offers a wonderful online selection of Winter Bulb Gift Kits that makes forcing bulbs even simpler!  

Paperwhites

In this post, I will be providing simple instructions on how to grow paperwhites. Paperwhite Narcissus is a fast growing ornamental plant that has clusters of fragrant white blooms.  It can bloom as early as 2-3 weeks after planting.  They require a warm and sunny location to flower.  

Longfield Gardens was kind enough to send me their beautifully made and full of rustic charm Wood Slant Windowbox Gift Kit along with 8 paperwhite Narcissus 'ziva' bulbs.  The kit also includes soil and decorative Spanish moss.  When growing paperwhites if you don't have a kit, make sure to have a 3-6 inch deep container of your choice.  You also need some container filler such as potting soil, stones or rocks.  Once you have your supplies, you are ready to get growing!

Wood Slant Windowbox Gift Kit from Longfield Gardens

How To Grow

In Soil-Fill your container almost all the way to the top with the potting soil.  Add some water to the soil to moisten it before adding your bulbs. Then, press the bulbs gently into the soil, root side down with pointed side up.  The bulbs don't need much room to grow, so you can place them relatively close together.  Make sure the tips of your bulbs are peeking slightly out of the soil.  Once the bulbs are in place, give your new plants a healthy drink of water.  Place the container in a cool, sunny location and keep the soil moist.  When watering, avoid pouring water directly over the bulbs to prevent them from becoming moldy. 

In Rocks or Stones-Fill your container  2 to 3 inches with your stone or rocks.  Place the bulbs closely together, root side down with pointed side up on top of your filler.  Add some more of your substrate to hold bulbs in place.  Fill container with water until barely touching the base of the bulbs.  Place the container in a cool, sunny location and maintain water level at base of bulbs.  Make sure your bulbs are not sitting in the water, otherwise they will become moldy. 

Your paperwhite bulbs should be blooming within 4 to 6 weeks!  It's that easy! 

Bulbs beginning to sprout in soil on day 7

Bulbs covered in decorative Spanish moss

Paperwhites on day 14

Paperwhites in full bloom. They began to flower on day 21-Three weeks after being planted!

Watering With Diluted Alcohol: When watering with diluted alcohol such as gin or vodka, make sure it isn't too strong so it won't damage the plant.  Here is a great article from About.com explaining how to do this in further detail.
How To Stunt Paperwhites With A Nip Of Booze

Holiday Bulb Giveaway!

More Bulbs I Have Grown

Have you grown or are currently growing indoor bulbs?  Do you have a favorite bulb you like to grow year after year?  Please tell me all about it or share pictures with me on twitter @thefreckledrose.  I'm always looking for new ideas, as well as any tips and tricks you have picked up along the way!  Thanks so much to Longfield Gardens for providing me with the gorgeous paperwhites I am currently growing as well as the Winter Gift Kit.  Very grateful they are providing this giveaway for one of you lucky readers!  I encourage you all to check out their website and take a look at the wide selection of bulbs they sell, as well as all the helpful information they provide. 

For further information, Longfield Gardens provides these helpful links on their website.  Please click the links below.

-All About Paperwhites

-Guide To Growing Amaryllis & Paperwhites

-Longfield Gardens Blog

*Disclaimer: I received a Winter Garden Kit from Longfield Gardens as well as paperwhite bulbs free of charge.  All opinions are my own, as well as photographs and reviews. I believe in sharing with my readers things that I truly enjoy in hopes of spreading the word of quality garden products to others. 

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Some of the most popular bulbs to force are paperwhites and amaryllis flowers.  With the holiday season upon us, these indoor flowers also make a great addition to your holiday decor.  Adding the gorgeous floral display to a festive centerpiece makes for an eye catching presentation.
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232 Comments

  • Reply
    kara kudro
    December 2, 2015 at 10:20 am

    I LOVE the wooden box with handles and love the red amaryllis and paperwhites.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:36 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Kara & check back on December 16th when the winner will be announced 🙂

  • Reply
    Kathy Blackwelder
    December 2, 2015 at 6:59 am

    Love the red amaryllis with the wooden box and rope handles. Would look great in my kitchen!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:33 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Kathy! Check back here on December 16th when I will be announcing the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Tammy Lavalle
    December 2, 2015 at 1:08 am

    I would pick the wooden box with amaryllis, please. 🙂

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:32 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Tammy! Come back on December 16th when I will be announcing the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Ivana Valero
    December 2, 2015 at 12:03 am

    Great info and lovely site! I’d choose the “Wood Box with Handles” kit with the Paperwhites!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:31 am

      Thank you so much Ivana! Good luck in the giveaway and don’t forget to come back here on December 16th to see if you have won 🙂

  • Reply
    bettyl-NZ
    December 1, 2015 at 10:03 pm

    Thanks for the tips. If they turn out like your other flowers, they will be amazing!

  • Reply
    sel
    December 1, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    love paperwhites! and so easy to grow….Actually, i placed mine on a shallow glass rectamg;e
    serve dish/ The dirt i used was only one inch in depth. Amazing how they grew. When
    they were a good heigth, i criss crossed them so they formed a trellis like look. When the
    flowers bloomed they were not only beautiful, but the treliss formed of the green stems looked
    interesting. Most of the complliments i received were by those that could not believe how
    they grew in the shallow of the dirt. the dish was 32 inches long by eight” wide. So much fun.
    By the way, no need for fertilizer, just good soil…..

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:23 am

      Wow that is amazing Sel, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

  • Reply
    Cheli Cuevas
    December 1, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    This is an awesome giveaway! I’m in love with the Woodbox with rope handle! The Nymph Amaryllis would look gorgeous in it!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:21 am

      Thank you for entering Cheli & good luck! Come back here on December 16th when I will be announcing the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Tari Lawson
    December 1, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    I would pick the Shop Amaryllis Nymph 34/36cm.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:20 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Tari & come back on December 16th when I will be announcing the results.

  • Reply
    Laura Fugate
    December 1, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    My favorite is the Wood Box with Rope Handles. It would look great filled with paperwhites.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:19 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Laura & come check back here on December 16th to see if you have won 🙂

  • Reply
    Betty Schultz
    December 1, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    J like the wooden box with the handles and double red amaryllis …thank you for a chance to win this lovely gift.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:17 am

      Thank you for entering the giveaway Betty & good luck! Check back here on December 16th when the winner will be announced 🙂

  • Reply
    Alison
    December 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Love your site and the information on growing paperwhites.
    Thank you.

  • Reply
    Emily Murphy
    December 1, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    What a wonderful giveaway and paperwhite collection! Perfect for this time of year. Thanks, Angie for hosting!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:16 am

      Thank you so much for entering the giveaway Emily! Come check back here on December 16th to see if you have won 🙂

  • Reply
    Cynthia C
    December 1, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    I would love to grow the Amaryllis Double King

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:14 am

      Wishing you good luck in the giveaway Cynthia! Come check here on December 16th to see if you are the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Deborah Wellenstein
    December 1, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    I love the wood box with rope handle, and the evergreen amaryllis bulb.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 14, 2015 at 12:13 am

      Good luck in the giveaway Deborah! Don’t forget to check back here on December 16th when the winner is announced 🙂

  • Reply
    manda
    December 1, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    The wood box with amaryllis

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 11:28 pm

      Good luck in the giveaway Manda. Be sure to check back on December 16th when the winner will be announced!

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