Bulbs are Us !!

It’s that time of year that so many of our customers wait for and we are just as excited as they are. The amaryllis and paper white, also known as narcissus bulbs have arrived at Westmount Florist so we’d like to give you a refresher course on how to plant of them.

We have giant 7 year old amaryllis bulbs available that can produce 4-5 stocks with each stock producing 4-5 flowers !! Imagine how gorgeous that will look in beautiful jardinière you have waiting to be planted up.

 

Also available are the amaryllis and paper white “kits’ which make great gifts and come complete with a plastic pot, soil and directions.

 

Follow these simple steps and you’re sure to be successful.

AMARYLLIS

1. Choose your containers with an understanding that big amaryllis bulbs develop very large, heavy flowers. To keep bulbs that are in full flower from toppling over, select pots, tubs or urns that weight several pounds each when empty. Or add some weight in the form of rocks or sand to the bottom of the containers. Also, keep in mind that you'll want to protect windowsills and other surfaces from draining water.

2. Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained soil. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work fine. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes; the bulbs must never sit in waterlogged soil or they will rot.

3. Site the containers where they will receive bright light or partial sun. Cooler temperatures (55-65F) will prolong flower life so consider placing your pots in an area that's a bit on the cool side.

4. Plant your amaryllis singly in pots that are a bit snug, ones with diameters 1"-2" larger than that of the bulbs. For several amaryllis bulbs in the same container, plant close to each other with shoulders about an inch apart for the most brilliant display. Tuck them in so that the top inch of the bulb is above the soil surface. The top of the bulb is the part that looks a little like the stem area of an onion and the bottom has a flat plate, often with a few roots attached.5.

5. Water well, gently soaking the soil and settling it around the bulb. After the initial watering, wait to add more moisture until after you see stem and/or leaf growth to prevent overwatering. One of the most common problems that occur with indoor amaryllis is overwatering.

6. Enjoy your colorful flowering pots. Most good quality amaryllis bulbs. Most good quality amaryllis bulbs with produce more than one flower stem, each with 3-5 flowers.  As your amaryllis grow rotate pots a quarter turn every day or two to keep stems upright and to counteract their tendency to lean towards the light.

7. When blooming is finished cut off the flower stems. 

PAPERWHITES

1. Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained soil. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work fine. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes. While it's fine to force paperwhites in water (see below) if you want your paperwhites to flower more than one season plant them in well drained soil.

2. Sit your containers where they will receive sun for all, or most, of the day.

3. Plant your bulbs close to each other, with hips about an inch apart, for the most brilliant display. Be sure to tuck them down 2-3” inches into the soil. Position with the pointy end up.

4.When in bloom, feel free to cut paperwhite flowers for fragrant bouquets. An insider's tip: members of the narcissus family have sap that contains a chemical that causes other flowers to wilt. Avoid mixing paperwhites (or daffodils) in a vase with other flowers.

At Westmount Florist we think educating our customers is key, so if you have any questions at all regarding the planting of indoor bulbs please feel free to call our Westmount or Pointe Claire store and our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you.

Happy Planting J