Holiday Garden Gifts: Force Bulbs for Easy, Beautiful Presents

Forcing bulbs for holiday gifts is easy—start now while fall bulbs are available. Two stars: Paperwhite Narcissus (fragrant, delicate) and Amaryllis (large, colorful). Red for holidays, white for fresh post-New Year look.

How to Force Paperwhites

Use tall glass container + decorative gravel (supports stems). Add charcoal for sweet water.

1. Firm, blemish-free bulbs.
2. 2" rinsed pebbles, 1–2 tbsp charcoal, more pebbles.
3. Place bulbs root-side down, almost touching.
4. Add tepid water to just below bulb bottoms. Replenish when level drops ¼".

Bloom in 4–6 weeks. Count backward from gift date.

How to Force Amaryllis

Watertight shallow container. ⅔ full pebbles + charcoal. Warm water to barely cover pebbles. One bulb root-side down (choose fleshy roots). Add pebbles to bulb neck for support. Water to touch bulb bottom. Check every few days.

Can force without gravel in snug container. Blooms in 6–8 weeks.

Neither reblooms—discard after. Plant extras every 2 weeks for continuous flowers through spring!