Planting paper whites for the holidays has got to be my favorite thing. I remember the first year I tried.. when they actually grew, I felt like it was the biggest accomplishment, like I was all grown up :)
All of my friends are planting paper white right now, I feel I should run out and find a killer looking fake one so I can get in on the action. Me + any type of gardening = disaster.
I love paper whites. I love them so much in fact I just purchased some that are ceramic (suprisingly, they look VERY real). I am not, and will never pretend to be a person with a green thumb. I envy those that do though!
I plant (force) about 100 of them each year. A trick is put them in pebbles in a bowl. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulb. Put the bowl in a dark place for about 4-5 days. Empty the water from the bowl, take out the bulbs, clean all the pebbles. Then put everything back into the bowl as before except this time add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the water. Set in the sun and turn the bowl every few days. I always dump out the water and add fresh every few days too and again a few drops of rubbing alcohol.
Putting in the dark helps them from getting too tall and flopping over. The rubbing alcohol seems to help that too as well as keeping the water from getting all mucky and staining the bowl.
10 comments:
I have a total black thumb so I am always impressed by people who can actually make things grow:) Paper whites are so pretty!!
what do they do?! I have to go google them...
I tried doing this one year and it was a huge flop. Maybe I should try again?
I love paper whites and I love how you planted them low in that tall vase....hope you don't mind me stealing the idea!
All of my friends are planting paper white right now, I feel I should run out and find a killer looking fake one so I can get in on the action. Me + any type of gardening = disaster.
Just got my first paperwhite bulbs thsi weekend! I'm so excited to see them grow (they say it's easy?)
I love paper whites. I love them so much in fact I just purchased some that are ceramic (suprisingly, they look VERY real). I am not, and will never pretend to be a person with a green thumb. I envy those that do though!
I've never seen them done like that so will be waiting to see them flower. Me thinks I might have to try that next bulb season :)
You must have a green thumb. I should try this though because I think paper whites are so pretty. I can't wait to see yours in bloom.
I plant (force) about 100 of them each year. A trick is put them in pebbles in a bowl. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulb. Put the bowl in a dark place for about 4-5 days. Empty the water from the bowl, take out the bulbs, clean all the pebbles. Then put everything back into the bowl as before except this time add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the water. Set in the sun and turn the bowl every few days. I always dump out the water and add fresh every few days too and again a few drops of rubbing alcohol.
Putting in the dark helps them from getting too tall and flopping over. The rubbing alcohol seems to help that too as well as keeping the water from getting all mucky and staining the bowl.
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