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.
*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.
232 Comments
Bev Henry
December 9, 2015 at 7:25 pmThe wood box with rope handles which includes 2 Amaryllis moss and container.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:58 amGood luck Bev! Come check back here on December 16th when I will be announcing the winner 🙂
Jenny S
December 9, 2015 at 6:33 pmI think the box with ropes is really cute. The Amyrillis are always BEAUTIFUL. My grandma always had those in her gardens.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:57 amGood luck in the giveaway Jenny! Come check back here on December 16th to find out if you are the winner 🙂
Floral Fridays
December 9, 2015 at 3:46 pmBulbs are so rewarding and growing them like you do can provide Winter colour and fragrance.
Many thanks for joining us on the Floral Friday Fotos meme.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:56 amI agree, add so much life & cheer to a home 🙂
Summer B.
December 9, 2015 at 2:27 pmI would love the Wood Slant Windowbox Gift Kit.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:55 amGood luck Summer! Check back here on December 16th when I will be announcing a winner 🙂
Rebecca Beck
December 9, 2015 at 1:01 pmi’m not into gardening but these pics are beautiful!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:52 amThank you so very much Rebecca! 🙂
Diana Stuart
December 9, 2015 at 11:32 amOooooooh. I love birch in my winter decor, so I definitely like the Round Birch Gift Kit with Paperwhites. These kits are stunning. I’ve never grown winter bulbs so I hope I can do Longfield Gardens justice with my growing attempt. Will check out their website a bit more to enjoy the holiday floral colors. Thank you!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:52 amThanks for entering Diana! Check back here on December 16th to see if you are the lucky winner 🙂
Adreanna
December 9, 2015 at 10:35 amThis is a fabulous giveaway. I would like the Round Birch Gift Kit with the Amaryllis Benfica. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:50 amWishing you good luck in the giveaway Adreanna! Check back here on December 16th when the winner will be announced 🙂
Barbara Pisano
December 9, 2015 at 9:07 amLove the wood box with rope handles & love the Amaryllis White Nymph , white goes with any decore & I love the fresh flower smell in the house.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:49 amGood luck in the giveaway Barbara and don’t forget to check back here on December 16th when I announce the winner!
Janelle Jones
December 9, 2015 at 8:51 amI do not have a green thumb but this seems like it would be simple to do.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:48 amYes Janelle, very simple and so rewarding! Definitely worth growing 🙂
Alana
December 8, 2015 at 6:05 pmI would love the wood slant window kit with Amaryllis Nymph – such an unusual color. I would have been interested in the paperwhites if they weren’t Ziva. I am one of the unlucky few that perceive the scent as one of garbage and not anything wonderful. Thank you for this giveaway!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:46 amJust like you, I am not a huge fan of the smell as well Alana! I totally know what you mean. They are so pretty to look at, but when in full bloom the smell can be overwhelming! Good luck in the giveaway & come check back here on December 16th to see if you have won 🙂
Tamyka Washington
December 8, 2015 at 4:43 pmVery interesting!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:44 amThank you Tamyka!
Kim Cunningham
December 8, 2015 at 3:35 pmPaper whites are so lovely and make me think of Christmas.
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:43 amI was given my first paperwhites kit from someone special in my life that is no longer with us. Whenever I see the flowers blooming, it makes me think of them and puts a smile on my face 🙂
Collette Osuna
December 8, 2015 at 3:19 pmThese are gorgeous! I think I’ll give them a try in the Spring!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:41 amThank you Collette! Feel free to share pics with me if you do 🙂
Nancy Wallace
December 8, 2015 at 10:01 amI LOVE THEM ALL, such a beautiful post – but especially the paperwhites in a box!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:37 amThank you Nancy! 🙂
Jen McGuinness (@JenMGardens)
December 8, 2015 at 8:04 amThe wood slant window box kit looks so pretty with either amaryllis or paper whites! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
Thefreckledrose
December 15, 2015 at 1:36 amThank you for entering Jen! Wishing you luck & come check back on December 16th to see if you have won 🙂