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Planting Instructions For 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. Set the bulbs gently in the soil or gravel, and pack more soil around the bulbs, leaving the tips visible. Water the bulbs thoroughly until the soil is soaked.
How do you plant Christmas paperwhite bulbs?
Plant a bulb or bulbs in a container using high-quality potting mix, and tuck the bulbs in until only a quarter of the bulb remains above the soil. You want to water the Paperwhites regularly when you choose this method, to make sure the soil remains slightly moist at all times.
Can you plant paperwhites in the ground?
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.
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.
Do paperwhites need soil?
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. Only the bottom half of the bulb needs to be covered.
When should I plant my paperwhite bulbs?
Unlike their daffodil relatives, paperwhites won’t tolerate freezing temperatures, but they can be planted outdoors where winters are mild. Plant them in the fall as you would other spring-flowering bulbs. They look especially attractive in groups planted in containers or the garden.
When should I start my paperwhites for Christmas?
The best time to plant your paperwhites for Christmas blooms would be 4-6 weeks before you want them at their best. If you want them blooming in early December for the start of the Christmas party season, plant in mid to late October.
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.
Can you replant Paperwhite narcissus?
Paperwhites (Paperwhite narcissus) are members of the daffodil family but are unlike other daffodils. When paperwhite bulbs are forced, they cannot be reused or regrown; however, when planted in soil and allowed to grow and bloom on their timing, you can reuse or regrow paperwhites every year.
Do paperwhites like sun or shade?
Paperwhites are fantastic indoor or outdoor plants that fancy well-drained soil but can also be grown in water and pebbles. Place them indoors near a bright, sunny window or outdoors in a spot that receives full sun.
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 do you store paperwhite bulbs for the next year?
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.
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.
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 plant paperwhite bulbs in gravel?
Planting Your Paperwhites Use gravel that is small enough for you to settle the bulbs in so they are supported. Bury ¾ of the bulbs into the pebbles with the pointed tip exposed. Plant them close to each other, just barley touching, using enough bulbs to fill most of the container.
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.
