It's Forced Bulb Season!
DECEMBER 14, 2024
Whether you've planted your own, or have received a potted amaryllis or paperwhites this holiday season, here's everything you need to know about watering, stunting growth to prevent flopping, and planting in your garden!
Amaryllis are some of the best gifts to give and get - they grow indoors, keeping you company through the cold winter months. Then, when their bloom cycle is complete indoors, you can plant the bulbs into your landscape or garden to rebloom for years to come!
01. Watering Guidelines
These bulbs are living in pots, so it's important not to overwater.
I typically water my paperwhites and amaryllis just once or twice a week.
Once the heat clicks on (or if you keep your home particularly warm), pots will dry out faster - stick with just twice a week, but add one more day if you're noticing your leaves wilting.
02. Boozy Bulbs
Once potted bulbs have broken dormancy and have three or more inches of green growth, you can keep their blooms from getting too tall and toppling over by adding a touch of clear alcohol to the watering can.
Try 1 part vodka to 7 parts water or 1 part rubbing alcohol to 10 parts water.
03. Toppling Over
If your bulb gets so tall the bloom topples over, that's no problem either - snip the budded or blooming stem where it meets the bulb, and place it in a vase with water.
04. Planting Outdoors
Once your bulbs have finished blooming, you can add them to your garden or landscape.
Before you do this, make SURE your bulb is actually done blooming. Often amaryllis and paperwhites will push an additional bud or two after the first one is removed!
To prepare to plant your bulb outside, remove blooming stems, leaving the leaves.
Plant amaryllis bulbs with their neck out of the soil, and paperwhite bulbs a few inches deep. Mark their location so you don't forget while they're dormant, and look for blooms next year!
If you're Houston local, there is a selection of potted paperwhites and amaryllis at the Garden Shoppe this weekend!
These are creative gifts that hostesses will love, or a way to give yourself the pleasure of the garden indoors through the winter months.
Garden Shoppe hours are
Saturday 12/14 9am-12noon
205 Aurora Street
I hope to see you there!
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