When autumn settles in and the garden outside begins to fade, it is the perfect time to plan for a living work of art inside your home. Forcing bulbs is more than just gardening – it is about designing arrangements that evolve, bloom, and bring lasting beauty through the winter months. At Brent and Becky’s, we love showing how amaryllis, paperwhites, and precooled bulbs can become living flower creations - floral art that continues to grow and transform long after cut flowers would have wilted.
Flower bulbs are a wonderful way to bring nature’s beauty into your home during the winter months. Amaryllis, botanically known as Hippeastrum, and paperwhites, a variety of Narcissus, are ready to be potted and come into bloom rather quickly. Other spring-flowering bulbs, like hyacinths, crocus, and early blooming daffodils and tulips, can be given a cooling period and then forced into bloom indoors. All of these provide color and beauty that will brighten even the dreariest winter days.
With their bold stalks and trumpet-shaped blooms, amaryllis make a striking anchor for any living arrangement. From a single bulb to multiple bulbs of the same variety in one container, they create a long-lasting and stunning statement. They can also serve as the centerpiece in a mixed container with paperwhites and oxalis, creating a beautiful blend of color and texture. Amaryllis can be grown in a pot or in a forcing vase with water just up to the base of the bulb for the roots to grow down into. They are so eager to bloom that many will flower even if left unpotted. For this reason, they are among the easiest bulbs to grow indoors. Many amaryllis bulbs will put up multiple stems, each supporting a group of flowers and providing fresh color for weeks. Petite varieties from South America have flowers generally ranging from four-six inches in diameter, while the larger Dutch varieties can produce blooms up to nine inches across. Choose a decorative container just slightly larger than the bulbs you plan on potting. Decorate the top of the soil with moss, stones, pine cones, or accents that reflect the feeling of the season you wish to bring in. Many choose classic reds or pure whites for the holidays, but pastels and striped varieties offer a playful twist.
If amaryllis bring a dramatic statement, paperwhites bring elegance and fragrance. They are a tazetta-type of daffodil known for their pure white, paper-like petals. Paperwhites are fragrant, easy, and quick to bloom. Most varieties will flower within three-five weeks after potting. For the most abundant display, plant the bulbs shoulder to shoulder in your chosen container. Like amaryllis, paperwhites can be grown in soil, rocks, or even just water. Adding greenery and a holiday ribbon makes for a festive centerpiece. Paperwhites are known for their sweet, musky fragrance, though intensity varies by variety. Some people adore the scent while others find it overwhelming. For those sensitive to fragrance, growing them in a cooler, more open space helps keep the aroma from becoming too intense. Each bulb will produce multiple stems with clusters of flowers lasting two-three weeks. Stagger plantings every two weeks, and you will enjoy a continuous display of blooms all winter long.
Need a touch of spring to chase the winter chill away? Forcing tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus with precooled bulbs allows you to enjoy some fresh color indoors while winter lingers outdoors. At Brent and Becky’s, we do the chilling for you, so all you need to do is plant and enjoy! Our extensive list of precooled options lets you choose your color palette and design your display. Preordered bulbs are available for delivery in December and January, the perfect time to start your indoor garden. You can create a layered planting by setting tulips deep in the container, hyacinths above them and crocuses at the surface. As each layer blooms in succession, you will have a living, evolving composition to enjoy!
Unlike cut flowers, which can fade in days, forced bulbs provide a long-lasting experience. The anticipation of growth, the gradual unfurling of blooms, and the enduring color all make your display a masterpiece to enjoy. Use containers that match your style – from sleek modern glass to rustic baskets. Add natural accents like moss, birch bark, or driftwood for texture, and remember to stagger planting times so fresh flowers continue to bloom throughout the season. This winter, consider your arrangements not just as floral displays, but as living artwork designed, nurtured and enjoyed over time. With amaryllis, paperwhites and precooled bulbs, you can craft a display that brings warmth, fragrance and artistry into your home all season long, while also creating one-of-a-kind gifts that friends and family can enjoy as their own living creations, full of beauty and fragrance.
Open Monday through Saturday • 9am to 4pm
7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester, Virginia
(804) 693-3966 x 108 • www.brentandbeckybulbs.com