I have a long list of people who do things for me on the regular, so every time the holidays roll around I try to keep an eye out for a simple & beautiful something I can give to quite a few without breaking the bank. I’ve always loved having clear vases of paperwhites all over the house come January – aaaaand there was an excess of mason jars hanging out in the kitchen – so there you go. This is the perfect solution for an army of giftees.
To make your own crocus and paperwhite gifts you’ll need:
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- Mason Jars (I used 1/2 pint & pint wide-mouth jars)
- Potting Soil
- Rocks or Pebbles
- Live Sheet Moss or Peat Moss
- Paperwhite or Crocus Bulbs
- Water
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Instead of Paperwhite or Crocus, you can also use other water-blooming bulbs like Amaryllis, Hyacinths, Tulips, Daffodils, or Dutch Iris
DIY Potted Crocus and Paperwhite Holiday Gifts:
- Choose your bulbs
Pick your favorite kind of bulbs! If you don’t plant your mini-gardens right away, be sure to store your bulbs in a cool, dry place and your moss (if it’s live) in a cool, damp place.
- Fill the bottom of a glass jar with potting soil
The roots of crocus and paperwhites only need 3″ of space to grow, so fill the bottom of your jar with a layer of soil for moisture.
- Add a 1 to 2-inch layer of rocks or pebbles
Add a layer of rocks for drainage, I used White Marble Rocks because I love their fresh, bright look.
- Top with sheet moss or similar
Push down some sheet moss in into the jar – this will hold the bulb in place (it’s also the touch that takes it from “bulb in a jar” to “mini winter garden”).
I used live sheet moss from the local garden store. I recommend buying the live stuff if you can – it’s a cheery festive green, it insulates the bulb, holds just a bit of water (even when dried out) and a little goes a LONG way. I probably only used about a 5 in. x 5 in. square for the 20 I put together tonight. - Gently tuck 1-3 bulbs into the moss
1 Paperwhite bulb fits perfectly in a wide-mouth pint jar and 3 Crocus in the 1/2 pint wide-mouths.
Personally, I think they are super cute as is in the clear jars, but if you are feeling a dressed-up version, we wrapped some of ours in paper bags + twine and are loving the look. You could also use some colorful DIY phonebook wrapping paper.
This is truly a great thing for kids to make (so quick and easy) and give (especially to other kids). And this one’s truly the gift that keeps on giving, because come January your little gift will be blooming!
