Pass the Gin... It's for the paperwhites... REALLY!!!!

Photo courtesy of Southern Living...I love a good cocktail... and as you may know... we have a tradition called "Flower Cocktail Hour"- where we gather each day at 5pm... I make a flower arrangement...to decorate our venue... and then Kelly and I have a cocktail and discuss the high points of the day... It's a fun tradition... and we are expanding it into a featured segment of our NEW Show- coming soon!! Hint hint...So... back to the Gin...  There is an unconventional use for Gin when it comes to Flowers...specifically paper white narcissus... If you are a fan (LIKE ME) of this fragrant early winter blooming flower - traditionally grown in low pans of water and gravel...You may recall the flower stems can become very long and "leggy"... sometimes getting so long they tip over... and that can be annoying and messy... depending on the circumstances...Back to the Gin... it's the Preferred Cocktail of Many...Gin is carefully distilled with grain and fragrant botanicals...and of course juniper berries... one of the key ingredients...Many Recipes for gin cocktails- include flowers, foliage or fruit....Juniper, Coriander, Citrus, Angelica, Orrisroot, Licoriceand even Cinnamon... to name a few...Mixologists advise- that a good Martini... should taste like Rain...I like that advice... gosh... it's making me thirsty... hehehe!Anyway... here's the remarkable thing about gin... the pine tar that is caused by the Juniper Berries... stunts the growth of Paperwhite narcissus... it's unique to that flower... and doesn't work on any other flower... but for the Paperwhites.. it makes them Stay SHORT! So here's the recipe: when planting your paperwhite bulbs in your pan of gravel... add one Tablespoon of GIN for each Bulb...For example... 4 bulbs = 4 tablespoons24 bulbs = 24 Tablespoons.... you get the idea...Add the gin before you add any water... and at the initial planting... fill the container with water... and then just add water there after... no more gin will be needed...Your Narcissus will remain short(er)... and not get long and leggy... It's also helpful to give them as much light as possible... less light will cause them to stretch as well...But Remember the GIN... it's a Secret Trick you're going to love!!!Get the Most for your Money...Subscribe to uBloom.com with an annual subscription ($2.56 a month)... with this discount code UBLOOMLUVAccess ALL Videos, Post Comments, Chat in Forums,and Promote your Flower Biz... Share your Passion for Everything Flowers!Flower Thoughts from J is a FREE Opt-in Email Subscription.Delivered Monday-Friday from J Schwanke, the Host of Fun with Flowers and J on uBloom.com! P.S... it doesn't have to be expensive gin... Generic Gin will do just fine...Save the GOOD STUFF  for Yourself!- Cheers!