Easy, fast growing and ideal for brightening the indoors this winter are amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus. Few plants can compare with the ease, vibrancy and sheer flower-power of these bulbs. Forcing them to bloom during the winter is not difficult, and the results are beautiful.
Most any bulb can be forced to bloom – meaning growing them to bloom at a time different than they would under normal landscape conditions – but none are easier than amaryllis and paperwhites. The reason is that these bulbs are native to warm climates so they don't require a chilling period to bloom, as do most flowering bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. In the landscape, our traditional spring flowering bulbs require a good 16- to 18-week period of temperatures between 35-45 degrees F to flower.
To grow amaryllis and paperwhites, start with healthy, good quality bulbs that are firm with no bruises or soft spots. You typically can find amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs at garden centers during this time of the year or from mail-order nurseries. You can force these bulbs to bloom in pots filled with soil or in containers with pebbles or marbles to hold the bulbs in place while they grow in water.
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