As the holidays quickly approach, winter holiday decorations are at the forefront of many minds. Traditionally, many people use greenery trimmed with red and gold accents during this time of the year.
However, for a more unique look, try taking some more elegant white flowers to the décor. “Forced” paperwhite flowers are perfect for this beautiful twist to traditional holiday décor.
“Forcing” Plants
The term “forcing” in gardening is used to denote a plant flowering outside of the natural season. Most flowering bulbs do well being forced to flower indoors during the wintertime. This is due to the bulbs needing to go through a chilling period; this period ranges anywhere from three weeks up to 16 weeks.
However, unlike other flowering bulbs, paperwhites and amaryllis are native to more tropical locations. Because of this, they don’t require to undergo this chilling period to flower. This makes them the perfect option for those looking to force flowering for unique holiday decor.
Prepare for the Holidays
In order to get your décor ready for the holidays, make sure to start as soon as possible. Paperwhites will take four weeks to bloom and can be planted in potting soil.
Additionally, paperwhites can be grown in water on top of decorative marbles, stones, or gravel, entirely without soil.
For even more holiday flare, be sure to choose a container themed around the holiday. These containers can be a vase, teapot, mason jar, or anything else that can hold the plant while providing some additional flare.
Once the container is chosen, be sure to place 1-2 inches of gravel or stones at the bottom of the container. Place the bulbs root side down on the stones.
Finally, add enough water to sit just below the bulbs; the bulbs should not sit directly in the water. Make sure the container is in a location with enough light to allow for plant growth.
Once the holiday season is over, consider what you want your garden to look like. Are you looking to do some French intensive gardening to make the most of limited space? Or perhaps you’re looking for information on how to improve the soil? Whatever the case may be, we have information that can help!
