Holiday bulbs are a steadfast tradition in my family. Mom always seems to be able to start hers on time so that she has beautiful blooms by Christmas. Paperwhites (or Narcissus) take about 6 weeks from the time you start them to the time they bloom. I never remember to get mine started until Thanksgiving so I usually have the fragrant flowers in bloom for our New Year’s celebration. In fact, I like having Paperwhites in bloom all through January. They have a very distinct strong smell and I have heard that some people are turned off by this. Not me. These blooms remind me that spring is around the corner somewhere. . . .
How to get your Paperwhite bulbs started:
1.) You can buy individual bulbs at any nursery for a coulpe of dollars each. Or . . . you will find kits at HeyDay that include a container, the bulbs and some potting soil, all wrapped in a beautiful shiny bag.
2.) Cover the bottom of your flat-bottomed container with river rocks, little beads from the craft store, or potting soil. Place the bulbs on top of the rock layer with about an inch of space in between. Pour about an inch of water in the container. Do not cover the bulbs with water–they will rot. Find a sunny spot for the bulbs and then . . . you are done!
3.) Continue to add water as it evaporates. The greenery will become tall and flop over as the plant grows. Supports like ribbon or gardening wire can help this. Look for blooms after six weeks.
Easy, easy and fun to have on the kitchen window sill!
