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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.
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.
Can paperwhites grow in just water?
Grow paperwhites in water rather than soil. It works just as well, and weighing the bulbs down with stones helps keep the flowers from tipping over. Washed gravel works fine, as do marble chips, polished river stones, tumbled glass or even marbles.
How often should I water paperwhites?
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.
Do paperwhites only bloom once?
Garden centers typically force paperwhite bulbs to bloom, so if the bulbs are already flowering when you buy them, they will not bloom again in the same year. With proper storage and care during the winter, however, your paperwhite bulbs will grow and flower again in two or three years.
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 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.
Can you plant paperwhites 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 long do paperwhite blooms last?
Paperwhites will bloom for a week or two before fading. Once the flowers appear, the blooms will last longer if you move the pot out of direct sunlight to a cool spot with indirect or diffused light. For continuous blooms, plant pots every two weeks in the late fall and early winter.
Do you deadhead paperwhites?
Deadhead plants during the growing season by removing fading or dying flowers with sharp garden shears or clippers. As with other perennial flowering plants, deadheading may encourage additional blooms. More importantly, it preserves vital energy for the plant’s bulb.
How do you take care of a paperwhite?
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.
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.
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.
Can you 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.
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.
Why is my paperwhite drooping?
Too much water combined with warm conditions can lead to bud drop. Once it sets buds, water your Christmas cactus only if you notice it begin to wilt. Once it blooms, resume watering whenever the soil surface feels dry.
Why are my paperwhite leaves turning yellow?
Daffodil leaves always turn yellow a few weeks after the plant blooms. This is normal and indicates that their job is finished for the season. The leaves have absorbed sunlight, which creates energy for the production of sugar that replenishes the bulb for the coming growing season.
How do you store paperwhites?
Store the paper bag in a moderately cool and dry location. A standard interior room with temperatures between 60 F and 75 Fahrenheit is ideal for paperwhite storage. Store the paperwhite bulbs for three to four months in the bag. Remove the bulbs from the bag when you are ready to plant them.
