Paperwhites are Narcissus to Force Indoors for Winter Color

Most garden centers or mail order houses have non-hardy indoor flower bulbs which can be purchased now when they are available and can be successfully shipped without freezing out. Some bulbs like hyacinths and tulips are often times forced to bloom inside and if that is your goal, hold back some of these bulbs for that purpose.

Two of my favorites are the indoor paper white narcissus and amaryllis bulbs. If you have not had the pleasure of growing either one of these bulbs, you are indeed missing a treat.

Unlike the narcissus (daffodil) bulbs planted outside the paper white narcissus is a non-hardy bulb for the cold areas of Ohio and the northeastern states.

Paperwhite narcissus (paperwhites) are grown indoors. Unlike other more hardy narcissus, paperwhites do not require a long period of cold or darkness, grows and blooms in five to eight weeks and tolerates the temperature and conditions of indoor cultivation.

These bulbs are fun to grow and the white flowers will not only brighten up cold winter days but will also provide a room with a subtle fragrance.

To successfully grow paperwhites the bulbs are not actually planted in soil, but are planted in pebbles, gravel, or marbles. When forcing indoors:  

• Select a shallow bowl with no drainage hole and cover the bottom of the bowl with a layer of washed pebbles, gravel or crushed marbles.
• Generally for an effective appearance and if the bowl allows for it, place 5-6 bulbs on top of the layer of the soil, gravel, or marbles. Each bulb is planted with the pointed end of the bulb upwards. Because the bulbs are going to be discarded anyway, each bulb can touch either.
• After the bulbs have been set in place; add more pebbles, gravel or crushed marbles to the bowl, surrounding the bulbs until only the tops of the bulbs are visible.
• Add water to the bowl so the water level is at the bottom of the bulbs and this level should be at kept at this level throughout the bulbs’ growth.
• After getting the bulbs situated, place the bowl and bulbs in a cool (50 to 55 degrees F), dark place for one to two weeks to allow the roots to grow and then bring them into a well lit spot that remains at 70 to 75 degrees F.
• Monitor the water level and within a few weeks the bulbs will start sending up shoots and will be topped with flowers

After blooming, discard the bulbs. Often times, people stagger their planting of the bulbs so they can keep the blooming cycle well through the winter.