Baldwin, Maryland
Celadon Hill is a boutique flower farm in Baldwin, Maryland. We sustainably grow “field to market” flowers for our community on our big green hill, using no-till methods. Celadon Hill is a friendly place for bees, birds, blooms, and us!
Our popular Paperwhite Kits, Amaryllis Bulb Planters with Jumbo Amaryllis, Branches in Birch and Dried Flower Ornament Balls. There is something for everyone on your list, especially flower lovers!
Paperwhites aka Narcissus bulbs can be forced indoors to bloom during the gray days of winter providing a little boost and hint of spring’s promise. The small, star-shaped flowers will last for several weeks and are fun to watch grow!
Paperwhites are native to the Mediterranean and will not grow outside in our climate. The most important part when forcing bulbs is to check water level every few days. The water should remain just touching the base of the bulb, not immersed, which could cause the bulb to rot.
Use a container that is at least 4 inches deep. Pour in about 1-2 inches of pebbles or stones. Nestle the bulbs on top of the stones, tips up. The bulbs can be touching. Add water until it just reaches the base of the bulb. If the bulbs sit in water they will rot. Optional: Add a 1/2 teaspoon of activated charcoal prior to adding pebbles to keep the water clean smelling.
To encourage root growth, set the container in a dark, cool spot (50-60F) for about a week. Check water daily and refill as needed JUST TO BASE OF BULB. Once the roots start growing into the pebbles and shoots are starting, bring container into a bright, warm place in your home out of direct sun. To keep stems straight, rotate the container.
Flowers will last for a few weeks and can be cut for a vase. After blooms fade, discard the bulb if forced in water. It will not produce another flower unless forced in soil. The soil recharges the bulb to make another flower. Essentially, it’s a “one and done”.
Paperwhite kits are available in the Celadon Hill shop with pick-up or local delivery! They make the perfect little gift and fun indoor activity.
Note- All Celadon Hill bulbs are Nir variety. They have a softer scent and make more flowers per bulb.
Get ready for a show! Watch them grow!
Get Ready to Grow-Amaryllis are valued for their ability to produce huge, glorious flowers indoors during the gray days of winter- plus they can be saved for re-bloom from year to year!
The potting soil in your bulb container is completely dry in order to keep the bulb dormant, so you’ll need to water it WELL with warm water to get things underway.
Add enough water to thoroughly moisten the soil, making sure the bulb is straight with tip up. Next, follow instructions below to bring your amaryllis to bloom.
Bringing Your Amaryllis into Bloom– Put the pot in a bright WARM spot. Amaryllis are happiest in 70-80 temperatures. If your home is cool, set the pot on top of a warm appliance or near a sunny window.
VERY IMPORTANT: After initial watering, water ONLY when the top inch of the soil is dry. Watering too often- especially until stem is 3-4″ tall- can cause the bulb to rot. It can take a few weeks before the bulb begins to grow. If you’re not sure, pick up the bulb and look to see if white roots are growing from bottom of the bulb. If you see white roots, this is a good sign! Make sure bulb is not sitting in water. Don’t worry! Be patient, keep it warm and please don’t over water!
Once a stem emerges, give your Amaryllis lots of bright light or sunshine. Turn the pot daily if the tall stalk begins to lean toward the light. Once it begins to bloom, move the pot out of direct sun, which makes the flowers last longer. As each bloom fades, snip it off close to the stalk to encourage more blooms and even more stems! Feel free to pinch off the stamen (anthers containing pollen in the bloom).
When there are no more buds on a stem, cut off the entire stalk about 2″ above the bulb. Don’t cut off any leaves.
Once your Amaryllis has finished blooming, set it in your sunniest window, continue to water when the top inch of the soil is dry and optionally, begin fertilizing every month with any water-soluble fertilizer.
Around May, set the container outside in full to part sun for the rest of the summer. Optionally, remove bulb from vessel and plant into ground somewhere out of the way, it will be here just through the warm months.
The goal now is to encourage it to grow big, strong leaves, which creates a BIG, healthy bulb. The bigger the bulb, the more flowers it will produce!
In the Fall, after the first frost, cut off ALL the foliage just above the bulb, bring the pot indoors or dig bulb from ground and put it in a cool 50-60F dark place for 8-10 weeks. I put mine in a paper bag. DO NOT WATER AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. Amaryllis must go through a dormant period to develop flower buds inside the bulb. After about 8-10 weeks, bring it out and start at the beginning of this page. Place in pot with soil or use same pot. Amaryllis bloom best when they are pot bound, so there’s no need to repot them every year. ENJOY!
Flowers need a bit of care to make them last longer. Here are a few easy tips.
Thank you for buying local!
For more information about local flower farms visit LocalFlowers.org
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