Christmas Flowers Start Now: When to Plant Amaryllis and Paperwhites
Amaryllis bulbs planted in early November can flower by Christmas, and paperwhites follow a few weeks later. Here is how to time both, and a trick to keep paperwhites upright.
Photo: Ornán Rodríguez Velázquez / Pexels
A flowering amaryllis on the Christmas table starts with a bulb planted this week. Amaryllis and paperwhites are the two easiest bulbs to bring into flower indoors in winter, and neither needs a garden. The trick is timing.
Amaryllis: plant in the first half of November
An amaryllis bulb usually takes six to ten weeks to flower after planting, depending on the variety and how warm your home is. For flowers on Christmas Day, early November is your last safe window. A bulb planted in late November will flower in the new year instead, which is no bad thing in the dullest weeks of January.
This article is for members only
Become a member to unlock this article and all premium content.
Related Articles
Plant Garlic and Broad Beans Now for the First Harvest of Next Summer
Fallen Leaves Make Free Soil Conditioner: How to Turn Them Into Leaf Mould
Bare-Root Season Has Opened, and Planting Roses, Fruit Trees and Hedges Now Costs Less
