topic Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS in Home

PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Oznell — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 23:21:26 GMT

One of my favorite sites, "Glam Pad", displayed how different people force bulbs so that they will have them for the Christmas holidays. They are so fresh-looking. The ultimate in holiday decor...

Maybe my favorite way of seeing them is in plain, rustic terra cotta pots--

But forced bulbs do look wonderful in old blue and white porcelain, almost like they're in a painting:

Really, any way they come, they lend such a festive note, don't they? Hey, what is Santa getting into?

Some of my terra cotta pots are *almost* this well-aged and broken in--

Apple mulch?

Love the way the green goblets echo the green of the stems...

So pretty below, could be in a movie...

The beauty of simplicity-- this room below is quietly ravishing....

Speaking of growing things, hubby took a picture of our Christmas cactus in the upstairs bathroom, and emailed it to me, so I can post here. See the jagged edged leaves? I found out that's characteristic of "Thanksgiving cactus".

(We have to keep it in that bathroom b/c one of our cats, naughty little nineteen year old Sibyl, wants to nibble on it and then throw up the bright red petals.... She can't really manage stairs anymore, so it's now safe from her tiny teeth...)

It took us awhile to figure out our plant is really a "Thanksgiving cactus", since it starts blooming in October, and keeps going.

I read that Thanksgiving cacti have leaves with sharper, serrated edges, while the Christmas ones have smoother edged leaves. There is a type that blooms in spring, and of course it is called--- "Easter cactus".

I guess some like to disregard the boundaries of when they can bloom.... If you have one, when do you get the most bloom?

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

chessylady — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 23:58:31 GMT

Last month, I bought a big bag of paperwhite bulbs from Costco. They are still in my fridge. First we had rain, now it is cold. But Your post made me want to get them potted up.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Queen of shop — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:08:16 GMT

@Oznell I had a wonderful Aunt from Pennsylvania that was gaga for her paperwhites. She kept them in an extra bedroom closet and would then start taking them out to "force" them to bloom. Her paperwhites were super old but they still bloomed for her.

She is long gone and I still miss her. She had a knack with Amaryllis too.

Thanks for a very nice memory.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Q-Checker — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:06:11 GMT

I love these paper whites, but there is way too much "stuff"around them in most of the pictures. I think that they can stand alone in their beauty. But, then, I am a long time believer that less is more when it comes to decor. True Confession: I am a minimalist when it comes to decor.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

CarolinaGirl88 — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:22:47 GMT

So many beautiful shots here! I love the paperwhites. I've only had them once, years ago. Your cactus looks great! Mine usually blooms between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year it never bloomed at all. No idea why. This year it bloomed early. It was at its peak around Veterans' Day and is just about done now, but it was gorgeous.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Desertdi — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:54:18 GMT

@Oznell

My dad always forced bulbs to bloom indoors at the winter holidays!

I also think a lot depends on your climate zone. di

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Carolina925 — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:02:18 GMT

I love forcing paperwhites in my house for Christmas but unfortunately I usually wait too long to start them. They make my home smell heavenly. Going out today so will be on a search however I may be too late since Christmas is so close now. Mine in the yard have started popping up since we had a freeze already, then moving to 80 degrees the past couple of weeks. Happy little flowers. Thanks, @Oznell , for posting your always beautiful pictures.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

just bee — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:43:21 GMT

@Oznell

Nineteen???

Give that Sibyl a big hug from all of us.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:14:40 GMT

@Oznell Love hearing about your naughty Sibyl! Love paperwhites in the cold months. A harbinger of things to come.

My mom always grew Christmas paperwhites in a clear glass bowl with rocks in the bottom. Dad had a Christmas cactus and an Easter cactus. The Christmas was red and the Easter was pink. He fussed over them like a nanny. I do remember the sharper edges on the Christmas cactus. Maybe it was really a Thanksgiving cactus. Who knows?

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Marsha2003 — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:08:37 GMT

I love the way paperwhites look, but learned that I cannot tolerate the scent when my mother displayed a lovely bowlful one holiday. So, now, I just enjoy the pictures.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Patriot3 — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 23:10:05 GMT

I had paperwhites once but had to throw them out because the smell gave me headaches. They are pretty, tho.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

jannabelle1 — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 01:28:40 GMT

I love the paperwhites...so elegant, but I prefer the blooming "cactus". I have an old Thanksgiving cactus that always blooms profusely every year in the many years I've had it. My other cactus could be either Thanksgiving or Christmas, however I have no idea since it has NEVER bloomed in the 17 years I've had it! My late husband bought it at a garage sale that many years ago and it was huge at that time and it still is. All I can say is that it's nice and green!

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Judaline — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:58:34 GMT

If I bought them already "forced" and beautiful, what does taking care of them involve?

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Oznell — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 16:07:57 GMT

Wow, I love hearing these paperwhites stories-- thanks to all who post them. I've never forced bulbs indoors before, so it is all fascinating to me. ( So, sorry I can't answer your question, @Judaline , but maybe someone else can.)

@CarolinaGirl88 , that's interesting-- ours sputtered last year with only a few blooms, too. It was the first year we had it. Sounds like you had a great follow-up this year.

Oh, @just bee and @PA Mom-mom , Sibyl appreciates your interest. She's the type of kitty who starts "pre-emptively" purring, the minute she sees a human coming toward her with the intention of petting. She's always been tiny, seemingly frail, but mighty...

@jannabelle1 , at least yours is nice and green! I think Christmas/Thanksgiving cacti make a wonderful presentation, even w/out blooms, with their long chains of interesting leaves, winding where they will...

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

ROMARY — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:26:59 GMT

Many beautiful containers, too !

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

DREAMON — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:17:35 GMT

Love the paperwhites and the photos are so pretty.

I like a pretty container pot but a good old terracotta pot is what I LOVE!

I have one plant going right now and want more after seeing these pictures.

@Oznell ..your Thanksgiving cactus is healthy and gorgeous.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Oznell — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:28:05 GMT

Hey, thanks, @DREAMON -- it just lost a few blooms but more coming. Good luck with your plant(s)!

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:15:19 GMT

Very pretty, but with my brown thumb no way

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

ValuSkr — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:22:44 GMT

I like their scent. But they do get floppy and need to be bundled or staked somehow to keep things tidy.

I think it's better to plant the bulbs in potting soil, vs stones and water. The latter is a perfect environment for fungus gnats.

Re: PAPERWHITES LOOKING GREAT INDOORS

Elodie2 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:55:07 GMT

I think Paperwhites are lovely but their scent smells musty to me. I see a few others mentioned the scent being off putting. Sort of like cilantro...you love it or hate it.