Get must - know peak on planting paperwhite bulbs indoors to enjoy their fragrant flowers in the wintertime .
Paperwhite bulbs are in the same syndicate asdaffodils(Narcissus ) , but are easy to grow indoors in winter . Their jolly white blooming last for about two calendar week and produce a sweet perfume . After they ’ve faded , you may prune off the flowers and relish the unripe leaves as a houseplant for a few more week . Growing paperwhite bulb is an easy agency to addfresh peak to indoor vacation decor . Here ’s how to found and grow these festal bulb .
Where to Plant Paperwhite Bulbs
While paperwhites can be plantedoutdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 - 11 , most of the time , they ’re planted indoors in pots or vases . Paperwhites are most often develop without soil , and the bulbs are placed in a pile of rocks or small I. F. Stone , where a little water is added to them and refill only when need .
Paperwhites are toxic to dogs and cats if ingested . Keep out of reach of your pets .
How and When to Plant Paperwhite Bulbs
When arise paperwhites indoors , engraft the bulb in late surrender to other winter . plant life between five to eightbulbs together in a potthat ’s at least 4 inch deep . take the pot midway with potting admixture , then set the bulbs on top . add together a little more potting mix until the top third of the bulbs are left exposed . It ’s fine to pack paperwhite bulbs snugly into your select raft . They look more impressive in large chemical group than if they ’re more sparsely planted . Each light bulb will give you a masses of small bloom .
To grow paperwhite bulb in water , use decorative shallow dishes or tray at least 4 in mystifying . fulfil the container with 2 - 3 inch of gemstone , pebbles , or glass beads . Nestle in the bulbs , pointy sides up , and add piddle just to relate the bottom of the dried roots , but not the bulb itself .
It takes paperwhite bulbs about 4 - 6 hebdomad to bloom after plantings . If you require your paperwhites in bloom for Christmas , ensure to plant them no later than Thanksgiving .
Credit: Michael Garland
Paperwhite Care Tips
An ample container , a piece of water , and a smear with sunlight are the most important thing paperwhite bulb need to grow and bloom . You ’ll often see the flower stems suffer with slight stakes , string , or a metal ring around the foliage , due to their tendency to fall flat over .
Light
Start by placing paperwhites that are settled in their containers in a cool , dry place . Once root have grow , move them to a stain withbright but collateral sunlight .
Soil and Water
Watering paperwhites is easier to carry off when you plant them in potting soil in a container with a drain golf hole . Water tokeep the dirt moist but not muddy . Stash your planted bulbs in a cool spot ( 55 - 65 ° degree Fahrenheit ) for a couple of week . They do n’t demand light at this point , but once you see some green increase , move them into a quick , well - dismount emplacement .
Paperwhite bulbs are very sensitive to weewee . When you grow paperwhites in piddle with rock or stones , supply only enough water to barely make contact with the bottom of the bulbs . The roots will reach down into the water , but if the bulb is sit around in urine , it will moulder .
Remember to check the water daily if you ’ve implant them on stones and every other day if they ’re planted in dirt .
Create a temporary holiday centerpiece by placing paperwhites in a large vase filled with cranberries. The fruit will rot in water, so return the bulbs to pebbles after a day or two.Credit: William N. Hopkins
Temperature and Humidity
Paperwhites that have set forth to develop take brilliant light , but the efflorescence will last longer if the plant life stay around 65 ° atomic number 9 . An idealistic location could be acool windowsill with indirect sunlightor a tabletop near a sunny window . Avoid a southern window with the sun cyclosis in all good afternoon .
Fertilizer
Paperwhites do n’t necessitate plant food — just air , water , and sunshine .
Potting and Repotting Paperwhites
It ’s possible to replant paperwhites in soil to grow new flowers once their flush have died , but it will take at least two to three geezerhood for new emergence to occur .
Pests and Problems
When grown indoors , pests are not a problem for paperwhites . Mold and waste can develop if there ’s too much water in their pots or land .
Types of Paperwhites
Paperwhites can vary slimly in odour , height , and other attributes , so it may be worth looking around to get hold a fussy type .
Ziva
Ziva is a popular assortment with burnished ashen flowers , a strong fragrancy , and fast growth .
Grand Soleil d’Or
Grand Soleil d’Or has an orange cup , yellowed petals , and a bold fragrance .
Nir
Nir has short stems , a mild fragrance , and showy whitened blossom .
Frequently Asked Questions
Once paperwhites efflorescence , their flowers can consider intemperately on their stems and make them fall through over . essay keep your paperwhites upright by giving them a stab of unvoiced strong drink . Research confirms that paperwhites growing on pebble have shorter , stout stem when watered with 80 - proof pot likker ( which is 40 % alcohol ) mixed in .
Mix one part any intemperate liquor ( vodka is chintzy ) with seven part weewee for a 5 % alcohol answer . Start the bulb with bare water , and after they pullulate leaves and stems , put back the water system with the alcohol mixture .
Paperwhites alone are abeautiful plus to any holiday decor , but if you require to dress up your plants , add some flushed holly berry branch , Christmas flower flowers , or add moss at the top of the Oliver Stone or pebble cornerstone .
Because they bloom in December when nearly every other flower does n’t , paperwhites represent Leslie Townes Hope and optimism for the beauty when springtime returns .
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/paper-white
http://www.hort.cornell.edu/miller/bulb/Pickling_your_Paperwhites.pdf
