Winter Blooms

Forcing Paperwhites

Gather together

A favorite wide yet shallow container-

I love my bird bath, and since it isn’t heated I just bring it in the garage after the first freeze with a quick sweep off for insects, it is ready to be used to support my indoor

flower garden.

I have also used large-mouth clear canning jars and shallow plastic lined baskets.

Shopping List

• 1. Paperwhite bulbs – check WalMart, Menard’s garden departments (I purchased mine in December then

started them in January)• 2. Decorative Stones or Marbles – Dollar Tree, buy

enough to fill the bottom of your container

Set Up

• Find a sunny area of your home

• Open the stones/marbles and pour them into the chosen containers

• Open the paperwhite boxes• Set the paperwhites upright on the stones

(Check that the paperwhite bulbs are still firm, if they aren’t they won’t grow. Don’t worry if the tips of the paperwhite bulbs have yellow/green starts- this is normal from being in the box. A few days in the sun will return their color to a healthy green shade.)

1,2,3 Easy…

Final Step

• Add water. Water is necessary, but the trick is making sure it is just beneath the bulbs, and yet not touching the bulbs so much that it rots them.

Blossoms in 6 Weeks or Less

• In just six short weeks (around Valentine’s Day) you should be enjoying gorgeous white blossoms