Growing Paperwhites and Unique Containers…
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Hey there…Are you on the home-stretch with your Christmas Season? I’m looking forward to finally relaxing a bit and enjoying my glass of wine by the fire. Honey Bee and I have a few holiday events this week and I’m ready to enjoy it all.
I never like to show up empty handed at get-togethers and parties. I like to bring just a little something, usually that I have created, as my way of a “Thanks for having us” gift. Do you grow or “force” flowering bulbs at Christmastime? You might be surprised at how easy it is to grow paperwhites. This year I grew several containers of these delicate white flowers – I kept a couple for my home and the others are hostess gifts that I’ve already gifted or will gift this week.
I don’t have a very technical growing method…all you really need are the paperwhite bulbs, a container and water. This is the traditional and easiest growing container made specifically for small bulbs…
…this is the growth after four days.
I like to grow bulbs in unexpected, fun ways. This is a thrift store creamer that I purchased for .50 cents.
It’s the perfect size for one bulb. I think this cow is so sweet and it look pretty on my entry table…
This oversized container is in my living room. I deconstructed a small grapevine wreath and added river rock in the bottom of the container with fresh water. I added the paperwhite bulbs on different days so that the bulb growth would be staggered. Even though you may purchase your bulbs at the same time – they have a different growth rate, and I like that look inside my containers.
And what a difference a week makes…look at how much taller this bulb grew in that short amount of time.
Getting ready to bloom!
If you follow us on Instagram, then you may be familiar with this next container. Another lucky thrift store purchase…a heavy ironstone gravy boat for .21cents! The exact same gravy boat retails at Replacements for $55.00!!
Look at how cute it is filled with water, river rock and a touch of moss. This is supposed to be a gift – but I really like it!
I just love the bright green growth.
Forcing bulbs to grow indoors doesn’t just need to be for Christmas. I love to keep bulbs going throughout the Wintertime to make my house pretty and fresh looking. I hope you give this a go and grow bulbs in your own home…or make as a gift. Let us know how it goes 🙂
Your creativity always impresses me!
Thanks Honey – you’re my biggest fan LOL
I love all your containers! I love paper whites but my husband doesn’t care for their scent so none for my house
Hey there Liz! Yes, I think the fragrance is a love-it or hate-it type of thing. I try to keep them growing in parts of the house that we don’t use a lot like the formal living room. I just love them because they are so easy to grow 🙂
Vicki and Jennifer, those are sooo pretty and once again the pictures are FANTASTIC. To be honest I never knew they were that easy to grow. Thanks so much for the wonderful tips and beautiful pictures too. xo Lisa
Hi Lisa…I discovered about 10 years ago that the bulbs could grow in water. Prior to that I had very poor luck growing them. A gardener in North Carolina shared the tip with me and I have been doing it ever since. Thank you so much for noticing my photos – I’m trying really hard to improve 🙂
What a good idea to start them on different days in the same pot, so you get longer life from the blooms!! I’ve forced lots of bulbs over the years, but have never thought of this. That’s a “small change. big difference” 🙂 Bwg ~~~
Hey Bobbi – glad you liked the tips. I am still amazed that there is the occasion of a bulb never blooming at all. By placing multiple bulbs on different days the odds are good that at least one will sprout 🙂
Love your pictures AND your fabulous thrift store containers!! I’ve never tried growing paperwhites, and I honestly didn’t know it was so easy!
Hey Amy – Yes, all you need is water! It’s so much fun and you can literally watch them grow 🙂
This is such a fantastic gift idea! I’ve never tried this before but you have me wanting to run the the nursery to find bulbs so I can try it!
Coco – you definitely should! They won’t bloom by Christmas but they will definitely sprout green by then. And you will have pretty delicate white flowers in January!