Planting Paperwhites and Amaryllis Bulbs in Recycled Containers

I have a friend who always brings such nice hostess gifts when she comes for dinner. Nothing expensive, just a little something and usually homemade. Last time she brought a small bundle of dried beans, still in their pods and tied together with raffia.

With the holidays coming, I wanted to put together some hostess gifts using paperwhites and amaryllis. I have lots of pots that I’ve collected over the years, but thought it would be fun to try something a little different. So I went rummaging in my recycling bin.

The colors in the olive oil tin are perfect for Thanksgiving and it was exactly the right size for an amaryllis. I put some big stones in the bottom, then a couple inches of moist growing mix, then the amaryllis bulb and a little more moist growing mix. Topped it off with some packaged moss (I could have used some moss from my yard but it was snowing out).

For the paperwhites I used an empty glass jar that had contained artichoke hearts. (It looks like a quart jar in this photo but it’s actually quite a bit larger). I put crushed stone in the bottom, then 4 paperwhite bulbs and then a little more crushed stone to hold the bulbs in place. Added some ribbon, stalks from a sensitive fern and a little sprig of cedar. 

Next up are some holiday cookie tins that I found in the basement. I also have my eye on a big round can of stuffed grape leaves (but have to eat the grape leaves first).

We have an excellent selection of amaryllis bulbs and paperwhite bulbs, ready for immediate delivery. Order them now so you can put together your own homemade gifts and have them at the ready.

You may also want to take a look at our gift kits. We offer naturally beautiful woven baskets, birch bark pots and wooden crates. All are surprisingly affordable and we make the kits to order with the amaryllis varieties you choose.