Get Ready to Grow
Forcing in soil
Choose a container at least 4” deep, with or without a drainage hole. For pots without drainage holes, add about 1/2 tsp. of activated charcoal. Fill the container with dampened potting soil, leaving 2” at the top. Arrange the bulbs, tips up, so they’re evenly spaced. They can be almost touching. Pour more soil over them until they’re two- thirds covered, then water. Set the container in a cool, dark place (50-60F) for 7-10 days to initiate root development. Water as needed to keep the soil slightly damp. When the foliage is up 2-3”, move the container into a bright, warmer place in your home, out of direct sun. As the foliage grows, turn the container every day to keep the stems from leaning. They don’t need to be fertilized — all of their energy is stored in the bulb. Since Paperwhites aren’t hardy outside unless you live in Zones 8-11, it’s not worth your time to try to save them to plant outside or to re-bloom next year.
Forcing Paperwhites in water
Choose a container that’s at least 4” deep and add about a 1/2 tsp. of activated charcoal (available at pet stores) to keep the water clean-smelling, then pour in 3” of pebbles or stones. Nestle the bulbs on top of the stones, tips up. They can be just about touching. Pour more pebbles around the bulbs until about 1/3 of the bulbs are exposed. Add water until it JUST REACHES the base of the bulbs. If bulbs sit in water, they’ll rot. Set the container in a dark, cool spot (50-60F) for 7-10 days to initiate root development. Check the water level daily and refill as needed. Once the roots start growing into the pebbles, it won’t be such a pain to manage the water level; just keep the roots in water. When the shoots are 2-3” tall, bring the bulbs into a brighter, warmer place in your home, out of direct sun. You may need to rotate the container, so the stems stay straight. Once the bulbs are finished blooming, just toss them out.
Bringing your Paperwhites into bloom
We’ve gotten these premium bulbs off to a strong start, so it’s easy to bring them into full bloom. Put the pot in a bright spot (overhead lighting is perfect) and rotate it to keep the stems from leaning. Water just to keep the soil evenly moist. Never let the bulbs dry out completely, or the flowers won’t last as long. When the flowers on a stem finish blooming, just cut them off. Once all the flowers finish blooming, just toss the bulbs on the compost pile; if they aren’t hardy in your region.
Here’s the trick to having shorter, sturdier stems After the shoots are up 3-4” begin watering them with a mixture of 7 parts water to 1-part white alcohol, such as the cheapest vodka you can find. Beer, wine or dark alcohol won’t work. If you use rubbing alcohol, adjust the ratio to 10-12 parts water to one part of the alcohol. Use this every time you water and your Paperwhites will be about a third shorter, but they’ll have just as many blooms and the flowers will last just as long!
What to do if your Paperwhites start to flop over
These beauties make a GREAT cut flower! Cut off any stems that bend over, along with a few leaves, and put them in a tall slender vase. OR, cut them short and put them in silver or pewter julep cups along with some greenery from your yard for perfect holiday decoration. You’ll have so many flowers blooming in the container, you’ll never miss a few to spread cheer around your home or office.