Containers for Forcing Winter Bulbs

I love flowers, so during the winter months when its too cold for outdoor gardening, container gardening, with bulbs, is a wonderful way for me to incorporate flowers into my space. This prevents me from having to constantly purchase fresh flowers from my local grocery store. At Christmas time, bright red Amaryllis add a beautiful pop of holiday color to a space. Post holiday, Paper Whites, or Hyacinth bulbs work well.
 

This is a great, vintage, loving cup shaped, stone planter. These Paper Whites grew, and began to bloom in about two weeks after planting. Stone planters are beautiful decor, when displayed in clusters of varying heights and styles. They add a natural, earthy element to any decor style.

Milk glass is a perennial favorite. Vintage pieces of milk glass can routinely be found in thrift stores, for great prices. Bulbs can be planted in milk glass compotes like the one I used  here, or a milk glass bowl, or a vase that has a opening wide enough to fit the bulb can be used. This is a Amaryllis bulb that yielded large red blooms at Christmas. The bulb can now be removed from the soil and stored in a cool dry place until next year, when it can be replanted.

This is a thrifted, glass vase that I have displayed on a wooden base. Both items are thrift store finds from separate outings. 
No soil is needed for this method. I filled the vase half full with stones, (purchased from the dollar store). Then I placed Paper White bulbs on top of the stones. The final step was to fill the vase with water until the bulb roots were submerged. Mother nature does the rest. Periodically add water to the vase to ensure the roots remain under water.