Gardening Through the Holidays
By Tammy Thornton
Stay warm and toasty while gardening in December. Bring the garden indoors! Paperwhites and amaryllises make beautiful decorations for the holidays and their bulbs are easy and rewarding to grow. They also make great gifts. Stores carry kits complete with bulbs, soil, and containers. But a less expensive option would be to buy the bulbs from your local garden nursery and plant them in your own flower pots or bowls. This is a great way to personalize your display–especially with paperwhites, which are eager to grow in most any container.
Paperwhites can be grown without soil. They are very fragrant, with tiny papery white flowers on the top of a tall green stem. Their scent can fill a room. Simply place 5-10 bulbs in a flowerpot and barely cover the bottoms of the bulbs with water. Weigh the bulbs down with pebbles or decorative glass stones. Use a clear glass container for a fun project with the kids. Paperwhites are fast growers and you can see their roots and stems change each day. Their stems will seem to reach for the sky, and after about four weeks, you will see and smell their pure white flowers. Since their stems are tall, tie them with a decorative ribbon. Another creative way to support them is to insert branches between the stems. Use willow branches, or paint small branches from your yard white or red for a striking and professional look.
Make growing paperwhites a holiday tradition. My first memory of paperwhites began many years ago “B.C.” (Before Children). My husband and I often took trips to New England in the fall. I remember a quaint, rustic store in Connecticut that sold paperwhite bulbs. I would bring home my little paper bag with anticipation of starting my indoor garden. Now that I have children, it’s fun to see their enthusiasm as they watch the fast growers change each day. And instead of driving to New England, I can purchase them from my local nursery. Plant more bulbs every two weeks for a succession of flowers throughout the winter.
Amaryllises are on the opposite spectrum from the delicate white flowers of paperwhites. Instead, amaryllises really pack a punch with their large, bold red blooms. Unlike Paperwhites, you only need one bulb per container but may get multiple flowers growing from that one bulb. We gave my father-in-law an amaryllis the Christmas before his passing. It made me happy to see how it brightened his room. He was always remarking how striking it was and loved seeing the beautiful flowers that seemed to last forever.
Because amaryllis takes about 6-8 weeks to bloom from bulbs, you may want to buy pre-planted bulbs if you’d like them to bloom by this Christmas. If you choose to plant them yourself for an indoor winter garden, choose a heavy pot, as these guys will be top-heavy from their large blooms. You will also need to stake them with a support. Unlike paperwhites, you will need to plant them in potting soil. Although they are known for their beautiful red color, amaryllises also come in white, peach, pink and variegated colors.
Start your winter garden today for beautiful blooms to carry you through the cold days of December and January. Plant some for yourself and more for a friend, so you can brighten their world as well. You don’t need a green thumb to be successful with these indoor plants. They are easy to grow and require little attention besides an occasional watering. During this busy time of year, low maintenance rewards are key. Once your bulbs mature to flowers, take a break; pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, enjoy your beautiful blooms, and dream about the garden you will plant in the spring.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
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