Bring the Garden Inside — Blooms for Holiday Tables and Winter Windowsills
“Forced” flower bulbs are the flowers we see in pots on holiday tables, in magazine photo shoots, and at the floral section of the grocery store during certain seasons. Forcing simply means planting a bulb and manipulating its environment so it blooms at a specific time — usually indoors during winter when the garden outside is dormant. It’s one of the most satisfying gardening projects you can do: plant a bulb, set it on a windowsill, and watch it grow into a living centerpiece.
Paperwhites are by far the easiest bulbs to force — they bloom reliably 4–8 weeks after planting with almost no fuss. But you can also force tulips, hyacinths, amaryllis, and other bulbs with a little more planning. Southern Bulbs offers complete forcing kits that include the bulbs, pot, and soil — everything you need to get started.
How to Force Paperwhites
- Plant them. Sounds simple, but in this busy world folks get intimidated by flowers. The first step is the easiest — just plant them. Make sure they have full sun or as much winter window light as you can offer.
- Water regularly, but not too much. They won’t need much water until roots really start growing (weeks 3+). Feel the soil — keep it moist, not soggy. Make sure they’re never in standing water.
- Wait 6–8 weeks. Paperwhites planted indoors in a warm, sunny spot bloom in about 4 weeks. Planted outdoors, they take about 6 weeks due to cooler nighttime temperatures.
- Keep them in sun. A sunny spot keeps foliage compact and sturdy. Too much shade causes the foliage and bloom stalk to stretch toward the light (etiolation), resulting in floppy plants.
- Move for display. When buds appear at 4–5 weeks, move the pot around the house as a centerpiece for holiday gatherings, then return it to the window between events.
- After bloom: Leave them in the pot for decorative flare, or plant them in your garden (Zone 8+). You can also let the foliage die back naturally, then store the dry bulbs in a cool, dark place for next year — but paperwhites are best treated as a one-season joy.
Pot Selection & Planting
Go wild with pot selection! Terra cotta, ceramic, glass, vintage containers — anything works. Do the pots need drainage? As long as you don’t overwater, pots without drainage are fine for forcing. This is a one-and-done project; you’re simply aiding the bulb through its 6–8 week bloom cycle. Plant with 2–3 inches of soil above the top of the bulb. Plant them close together for a full, natural look.
Forcing Kits from Southern Bulbs
Southern Bulbs offers ready-to-go forcing kits in three sizes — perfect for gifts or for your own holiday display:
- Small Kit — one bulb in a traditional terra cotta pot; a charming teacher or hostess gift
- Medium Kit — multiple bulbs in a larger pot; great for a table centerpiece
- Large Kit — a generous planting for a stunning holiday display
Kits are available for both paperwhites and tulips.
Other Bulbs You Can Force
- Tulips — need 8–12 weeks of refrigeration before planting; bloom in a spectacular spring display
- Hyacinths — powerfully fragrant; can be forced in soil or on a hyacinth glass with just water
- Amaryllis — dramatic large blooms, popular for Christmas; bloom 6–8 weeks after planting
- Daffodils — some tazetta varieties like ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ and ‘Wintersun’ force beautifully
A Note from Chris
“A few years ago, I went to an estate sale of an orchid lover. In the middle of the house was a large room devoted as a solarium for growing nothing but orchids in amazing terra cotta orchid pots. I bought every pot I could! These make the perfect cute gift for teachers, co-workers, or for yourself as a flower to brighten up a small corner of your life during the winter.”
Ready to bring the garden inside?
Shop Forcing Kits & Bulbs at SouthernBulbs.com →