On my online workbook this week: Stretching into Spring

Dear

The inspiration this week is the creative potential of growing (on purpose!) leggy paperwhites.

My design note for you this week is not just about keeping the bulbs healthy but also keeping them in place in the design. I wanted my bulbs to lift slightly up at an angle so that it drapes rather than falls into position. This ensures that the bulbs are not soaking in the water.

Where growing the paper whites on pebbles is perfectly fine, in fact ideal it becomes visually distracting in the design.

While growing the paperwhites you need the heavy pebbles to give the bulbs the support they need. But then for the design (see the pictures above) you need a support that is not so heavy. Replace the pebbles with glass chips for an almost invisible support and lift. Simply adjust the tilt of the bulb by placing the glass chip closer or further under the bulb.

Give the bulb enough of a lift to make sure the base of the bulb does not sit directly in the water. Water should only touch the roots, not the bulb itself. If the bulb rests in the water, it will rot, creating murky, cloudy, or smelly water and moldy unsightly roots.

As roots continue to grow in the design, keep the water level just below the base of the bulb. The frosted glass chip will appear almost invisible if you top up the water by poring the water over the frosted glass chip.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine