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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
    Kristin Crouch
    November 30, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    I love the wood box with handles. Paperwhites are so much fun to grow! I live in Canada so I am sure I can’t enter but fun to read your post as its so informative.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      Thanks Kristin! If I could send it to you myself I would 🙂 Paperwhites really make the holiday season extra special for me every year, so lovely to see them bloom!

  • Reply
    The Houseplant Guru
    November 30, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    I would love the Round Birch Gift Kit and would love the Minerva amaryllis with it. This is exciting! Fingers crossed!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      Thanks so much for entering Lisa & good luck! Don’t forget to check back on December 16th when I will be announcing the results 🙂

  • Reply
    Karen Bartels
    November 30, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    I would love the Wood box with Rope Handles and a Benfica Amaryllis.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:20 pm

      Good luck in the giveaway Karen & come back on December 16th to find out the results!

  • Reply
    John Porter
    November 30, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    The Amorice amaryllis in the birch round would look great!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:16 pm

      Good luck in the giveaway John! Don’t forget to check back here on December 16th when I announce the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Maggie
    November 30, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    I would love the metal floral imprinted kit with Apple Blossom amaryllis! 💕

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:14 pm

      Thanks so much for entering the giveaway Maggie & good luck! Don’t forget to check back on December 16th to find out the results 🙂

  • Reply
    Cyndi
    November 30, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    I think that the Metal Red Snowflake Gift Kit is beautiful. And I’d like to fill it with Narcissus Tazetta Ziva. Thank you for the opportunity to win … and also the instructions for growing paperwhites in the winter.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:13 pm

      Good luck in the giveaway Cyndi! Come back here on December 16th to see the results!

  • Reply
    Judith
    November 30, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    I’d love the wood slant windowbox gift kit with the Amaryllis Spartacus

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:12 pm

      Thanks for entering Judith! Good luck & pop back here on December 16th when I announce the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Ashlee N
    November 30, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    I love the twig pot gift kit, and it’d look beautiful with the sweet nymph amaryllis!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:09 pm

      Good luck in the giveaway Ashlee & don’t forget to come back here on December 16th to see the results!

  • Reply
    Cheryl Ferguson
    November 30, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    That wood box with the ropes is fabulous looking! That would look perfect in my mom’s house. Add some scilla and I’m sure she’d be thrilled. Wish you were closer so I could take her in person to see your gardens.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:08 pm

      That would make a lovely gift for your mom! I wish you both were closer as well Cheryl. That’s what I love about photography, gives us all the ability to share our gardens around the world 🙂

  • Reply
    jen mancheski
    November 30, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    I share my love of the amaryllis with my Grandma. I like the wooden box with the rope handles.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 10:03 pm

      That is great to hear Jen! It’s so nice to be able to bond with others over something as beautiful as gardening & flowers! Good luck in the giveaway and check back here on December 16th when I announce the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Eileen
    November 30, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Hello, your paperwhites and the windowbox are pretty. I would love to enter this giveaway, the winter bulb kit would be my selection.
    Thanks to you and Longwood Gardens.
    Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 9:59 pm

      Thank you very much Eileen! Good luck in the giveaway and don’t forget to check back on December 16th when I announce the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Sandi
    November 30, 2015 at 11:23 am

    I’ve always wanted to try planting these and after reading your post, I think I’ll try! Love the Cherry Nymphs they offer and the wood planter you used is beautiful! It would be nice to have some beautiful blooms when it’s cold and snowy here in New England. Love the pictures on your blog!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 9:58 pm

      Thanks so much Sandi! Good luck in the giveaway & come check on December 16th to find out if you’re the winner 🙂

  • Reply
    Renee Fuller
    November 30, 2015 at 10:57 am

    Love paperwhites and used to have one container for Christmas. After reading this, I definitely have to get some!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 9:56 pm

      It’s so nice to be able to enjoy them around this time of year!

  • Reply
    Ruth
    November 30, 2015 at 10:12 am

    They look stunning! I like the weave basket with evergreen amaryllis.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      Thank you Ruth! Good luck in the giveaway & check back on December 16th for the results! 🙂

  • Reply
    Donna@Gardens Eye View
    November 30, 2015 at 8:43 am

    What a wonderful contest and post filled with so much info…I love to grow paperwhites in winter and cut for vases. Longfield Gardens have some of the best kits…I love the Weave Basket Gift Kit with Amaryllis Sweet Nymph . Many thanks to you and Longfield Gardens for the giveaway!

    • Reply
      jim zahorian
      December 9, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      me too.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      December 13, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      Thanks Donna! Good luck in the giveaway and don’t forget to check back on December 16th!

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