Gardeners Supply Plant Care & Gardening Advice/Tips/Secrets @ HortChat.com®

During the cold gray winter why not grow paperwhite narcissus and add a ray of sunshine to your home? Narcissus papyraceus, a cultivar of Narcissus tazetta, is available during the holiday season and sold as bulb kits or as single bulbs in garden centers. The easy to force bulbs produce clusters of white fragrant flowers can brighten any home in the dead of winter.

Paperwhite narcissus can be easily forced to bloom anytime in winter thru spring because unlike tulips, hyacinths or daffodils, they do not require a cooling period (vernalization)
Plant the bulbs in groups of 3, 5 or 7 in well-drained soil mix with the top half above the soil line. Water the soil thoroughly and place in a warm location. When the leaves begin to emerge, move the container to a sunny area.

Another popular way to start paperwhites is without a soil medium. Simply place the bulbs close together, flat end(tips up) into a container that has a layer of rocks, marble or gravel in the bottom. Add just enough water to keep the bottom of the bulbs moist but not wet. They should not sit in water or they will rot. It will take about a week for the roots to grow into the water soaked gravel. No fertilizer is required.
When bulbs are planted in the fall (Thanksgiving) blooming will occur in 4-6 weeks, but if planted later in the season they should bloom within 2-3 weeks.
The flowers should last from 1 – 2 weeks, but for optimal longer lasting blooms, move the container to a cool, bright spot out of direct sunlight when the flowers first appear. If grown in too warm temperatures or not enough light, the plant may get tall and top heavy and require some kind of support to keep it from flopping over.

New research by Dr. William B. Miller at Cornell U. has shown that the use of alcohol can shorten the stem length of paperwhite narcissus thus reducing the too tall, flop over problem. Replacing the existing water with a 5% solution (1 part isopropyl alcohol to 10 parts of water) when the shoots are 2 inches tall will keep the foliage and stems at 1/3 to 1/2 shorter than their normal height with no affect on the flowers. Don”t use beer or wine and an alcohol solution no higher than 10%. The reduced growth is believed to be caused by the alcohol making water absorption difficult for the bulb resulting in “water stress”.

Forced paperwhites will not re-bloom; the bulb depletes all its energy in flower production. In Northern climates, they should be enjoyed and then discarded. However, in warmer climates, zone 8-11, Paperwhites can be planted outdoors and may rebloom after a few years of rebuilding the bulb.
source:www.hort.cornell.edu/

I would like to know how to care for an oriental lily such as a Stargazer lily?

Oriental lilies such as Stargazer  (red & white) or Casablanca (pure white) are easy to care for once they are established in your flower bed. Plant them in full sun in well-drained fertile but not soggy soil. They will tolerate some light shade as well. In hot climates they prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant in early spring or fall 3 times the depth of the bulb (6-8″).  Add a teaspoon of bone meal to the bottom of the hole. Fertilize twice a year, once in spring and again just before blooming.  The sweet scented lilies bloom from mid to late summer ( July-Sept).

Long-lasting Cut flower tips:

Now a days, cut flowers can be bought just about anywhere. The quality and longevity depends on the care the cut flowers receive; from the moment they leave to grower to the time they are displayed at their final destination.

Here are some helpful tips to get the maximum life span from any cut flowers.

1. Add a floral preservative such Crysal, Floralife to a clean vase and fill half way with tepid water. If you don’t have any make your own 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp bleach, 2 tsps. lemon juice to 1 qt. of lukewarm water.

2. With a sharp knife or clippers recut 1-2 inches off the bottom of the stem and place immediately in tepid water. The preferred way is to cut the stems under water.

3. Remove any foliage that will be underwater. Deteriorating leaves can generate more bacteria shortening your flower life.

4. Check the water level and be sure all stems are in water. Add more water when needed. Change the water and recut the stems every 3-5 days. If it gets cloudy change more often.

5. Display your flowers away from direct sun, heating vents or cold drafts.

6. Store your flowers in a cool room and cover them with a plastic bag to increase humidity. You can also store them in a refrigerator at temperatures of 40-50 degrees but be sure that you don’t have any fruit or vegetables that can emit ethylene gas causing them to wilt or die rapidly.

When you purchase cut flowers don’t store them in too hot or too cold temperatures-tepid water will do.
Some flowers may have a discoloration at the bottom of the stem, this indicates that the flower underwent a pre-treatment by the grower to further extend vaselife. It is not a disease.