Narcissus for the Holidays and Beyond

There is nothing better for the spirit than flowering plants in winter. One of my favorites, paper-whites, I grow on a table near the door, helping make winter look like spring and chasing the January blahs away. They take everything winter throws at them as they sit under the protection of a deck cover.  This year I planted the cultivar Narcissus 'Ziva'. The painted pot sits on my deck and keeps blooming well into winter. Other filled containers, I gave away to friends for their own entryways or decks.

I plant the fresh bulbs in regular potting soil or gravel about mid October.  This guarantees they will be blooming before Christmas. In containers with no drainage, I use marbles or glass chips if I am growing them in water only. Filling each pot with as many bulbs as will fit, without their touching each other, gives the best display. With shallow containers, I barely cover the bottom of the bulbs with potting medium; in deeper ones, they are buried up to their necks. Planted in soil, these two containers were left outside under the protection of the deck cover until they began to blossom. They are staged in a prominent place for my enjoyment until the flowers fade.

For bulbs growing in gravel or other soil-less medium, treat with alcohol to stunt their growth keeping their stems short while not affecting their beautiful flower display.  When finished blooming, toss the bulbs, preferably on the compost heap, and buy new bulbs each year. It makes an elegant, yet inexpensive display, or use for gifts each year, especially when recycling your pots.

 

Click on images to enlarge.

 

Comments

[livius]

I've been bummed at the decimation of my little container herb domain with the arrival of the cold weather. Next year I think I'll follow your example and plant some beautiful winter flowers in the fall. :)

[Debbie TT]

Hello Liv, I hope you get as much enjoyment as I do. Winter flowers are so cheery especially when you can view them often.

[Lisa]

I've heard you can actually plant the bulbs outside after having them indoors? Where did I hear that? Perhaps this is not the case here in the rainy side.

Thanks for the alcohol tip. My paper-whites get so long they tip over. By the time they bloom, I can't enjoy them because they crash!

[Debbie TT]

If you lived in zones 9-11 you would be ok. Here in the rainy zone we are too cold, unless we have a mild winter.

The alcohol works well to stunt their stem length, just be sure not to follow the percentage of alcohol to water so you don't kill them.

Thanks for the comments!

[Debbie TT]

Sorry, but that should read be sure to follow the percentage...

[Lisa]

I remember where I saw the information about planting the paper-whites outside. On the box of paper-whites bulbs! I'm glad I checked here first before I made the effort only to be disappointed...