Garden Plot
The 1-2-3’s of Forcing Paper White Bulbs
One of the things I most look forward to during the Christmas holiday season is the opportunity to bring my gardening indoors.
For years my family has enjoyed the wonderful fragrance that fill our home when the “Paper Whites” are in full bloom. In addition to “Paper Whites”, I also like the rich bright colors of Amaryllis and the intense spicy fragrance of rosemary; all very popular as home accents during the holiday season.
Forcing, or encouraging the growth, of Paper Whites is simple and I mean this when I say, anyone can do it. There are only three items required and within a period of about 10 days, your home can be filled with the aroma and beauty of fresh flowers throughout your home. So, if you get started right away, they will be ready just in time for Christmas morning.
So let’s get started. Here is what you will need and what you will need to get it done:
Materials:
One glass vase, pebbles or stones to cover the bottom of the vase and Paper White bulbs. These can be purchased loose at your local garden supply or you can also purchase kits at your local DIY retailer.
Instructions:
Cover the bottom of the vase (at least 4 inches in diameter and 10 inches tall) with stones or pebbles. Position enough bulbs on the surface of the stones with root area facing down. Pour enough water in the vase to come up to about 1/3 way of the bulbs. Place in a well-lit room; preferably an area that gets some sunlight. Check every other day to maintain the water level. After the third day, the growth of the bulbs will be quite rapid.
