Paperwhites For Christmas

Decorating for Christmas wouldn’t be the same at Connecticut Country House without containers full of fragrant, blooming paperwhites. It takes about 4 to 5 weeks for these papery beauties to flower, so now’s the time to start potting them up.

It’s easy.

• Choose a container – I love to set them into an assortment of old clay pots and lined baskets.
• Lay crushed stone or clay pot shards in bottom of container to provide drainage.
• Fill container to 1-inch from the top with potting soil.
• Place each bulb, pointed side up, about 1/3 into the soil, keeping bulb 2/3 above soil line. Cluster them closely, like eggs in a carton, for a fuller arrangement.
• Place in a sunny spot and water well.
• As they start to grow, they will push themselves out of the soil, so gently push them back in.
• Use plant supports early – twigs and twine are natural supports.
• Once they’re in bloom, and to keep them flowering longer, move them to a cooler spot (between 55-65°F) with indirect light.

Happy planting!

Love, Nora