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Grow paperwhites indoors in a shallow pot or bowl (3-4 inches deep) without drainage holes. Fill the pot with small, loose stones. Gently place upright paperwhite bulbs into the container, pressing them into the stones. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bulbs.
Can I plant paperwhites in soil?
Planting Instructions For Paperwhite Bulbs Paperwhite bulbs do not need deep soil to grow, so you have many decorative options for bowls, dishes, vases, and flower pots for planting Paperwhite bulbs. Fill a pot or dish halfway with soil or gravel. You’ll want at least 2 inches of soil or gravel for drainage.
Do paperwhites come back every year?
Paperwhites are often found in homes, blooming with starry white flowers that help dispel the cobwebs of winter. Sometimes if you plant them outside in USDA zone 10, you may get another bloom the next year but usually paperwhite bulb reblooming will take up to three years.
What do you do with paperwhite bulbs after they bloom?
Keep Them in Pots About six weeks after the paperwhite blooms, turn the pot on its side and store it somewhere where it will not freeze, such as a garage or basement. In the fall, turn the pot upright, place it in the sun, water the bulb thoroughly and continue watering until the paperwhite blooms again in the spring.
How deep do you plant paperwhite bulbs?
Plant the bulbs about 6″ deep and 4″ apart. There are only a few areas in the country (S. California and parts of Texas) that have the hot, dry weather conditions that paperwhites require for long-term success. In other areas where paperwhites are hardy (zones 8-11), the bulbs are treated as annuals.
How do you plant paperwhite bulbs indoors in soil?
Add a couple of inches of soil or bulb compost. Plant the Paperwhite bulbs closely packed together with the pointed ends upwards and add more soil so that the tips are just showing. Water sparingly so that the soil is just moist, place the pot in a sunny spot and the Paperwhites will bloom in around 6 weeks.
How often should I water paperwhite bulbs?
Check the bulbs frequently and water thoroughly when the potting mix is dry 1″ below the surface (but not more than once a week until the bulbs begin active growth), or when the water level is more than 1″ below the stones or glass in your vase.
How do you deadhead a paperwhite?
While paperwhites need minimal care, proper pruning allows bulbs to store enough energy to fuel the following year’s blooms. Deadhead plants during the growing season by removing fading or dying flowers with sharp garden shears or clippers. Remove discolored leaves.
What do you do with bulbs after they bloom indoors?
Clip off dead blooms, leaving the foliage intact. Set containers in a sunny window indoors, or a bright, but protected spot outside and continue watering as usual. Allow the soil to dry out completely once the leaves have withered and died. Set the pots in a cool, dry place in a basement, garage, or shed.
Can you Rebloom paperwhites?
Paperwhites can be grown indoors and forced to bloom during the holiday season. With the proper care, you can save and preserve paperwhite bulbs to bloom again. However, they do require time to replenish their energy stores, and may not re-bloom for two or three years.
How do you take care of a paperwhite plant?
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Paperwhites will bloom in about two to four weeks. Once the plants begin to bloom, the floral display typically lasts one to two weeks. For longest bloom, keep the soil moist and move the pot out of direct sun.
How long do paperwhite flowers last?
Paperwhites will bloom about four to six weeks after planting, so plan accordingly if you want flowers for the holidays or other special occasions. For continuous bloom throughout the winter, plant bulbs every two weeks from late fall through February.
How do you start a paperwhite bulb?
Gently place upright paperwhite bulbs into the container, pressing them into the stones. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the bulbs. Store bulbs in a cool, dark room for 4-6 weeks. Move to a cool, sunny place when shoots begin to sprout.
When can I plant paperwhite bulbs outside?
Like most bulbs that are forced for indoor flowers, paperwhites are usually tossed out after they finish blooming. In warm climates, where temperatures don’t go below 20°F, paperwhite bulbs can be planted outdoors in late fall and will bloom in late winter. Plant the bulbs about 6″ deep and 4″ apart.
How do I stop my paperwhites from falling over?
Here are four ways to keep your paperwhites from falling over. Support Them With Sticks. The tried-and-true method for keeping paperwhites from falling over is to support them with a stick or with multiple sticks. Support Them With Ribbon. Support Them With A Tall Straight-Sided Vase. Stunt Their Growth With Booze.
When should I fertilize my paperwhites?
In successive seasons, good care of paperwhites should include a high phosphorus fertilizer worked into the soil around the bulbs in spring. This will help encourage bigger and healthier blooms.
What kind of soil do paperwhites like?
Paperwhites can be grown in potting soil or gravel. You can grow them in any type of planter. When you grow them in gravel make sure your container is water tight so water does not drain out. Use gravel that is small enough for you to settle the bulbs in so they are supported.
How do I stop my paperwhites from getting leggy?
How to Keep Paperwhites From Getting Leggy Place about 2 inches of washed pebbles or decorative stones or gravel in a shallow container about 3 or 4 inches deep. Set the paperwhite bulbs pointed-side up on the gravel, nestling them slightly so they are each secure. Add water so it barely reaches the bulb bottoms.
Do paperwhites smell?
Paperwhite narcissus are the cilantro of the flower world. While some people can’t get enough of their heady fragrance, to others they smell like a cross between dirty socks and cat pee.
