Raise Your Garden

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in Indoor plants

Growing fragrant paperwhites indoors

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It’s a good time to “force” your paperwhites. That is, time to plant these stunning bulbs in an indoor pot. Paperwhites planted in small vases make the best shower or wedding party favors. This project is easy and inexpensive to do. Fragrant paperwhites just need to be potted and watered. That’s it!  Have an elderly aunt, grandma or even a sick friend? Ever need a hostess gift? Perfect. Tall, elegant, and striking in appearance they will be appreciated. And the fragrance? Mind-blowing. So let’s enjoy a few blooms before our outdoor spring flowers blossom. 
What You Need:

  • 3-12 Paperwhite bulbs
  • Small pebbles (like from the beach) or stones, beach glass, marbles of various shapes and sizes, shell chips
  • Growing these bulbs in water is a favorite way of flowering them, and is really all that is required. Any additional material simply serves as a root anchorage to prevent the plants from toppling over. In lieu of the pebbles, you could also anchor the bulb by applying a thin layer of gravel, sand or peat moss placed at the bottom of the receptacle. 
  • Container, vase, jar, glass, votive, bowl, pot, barrel, tub or urn with a drainage hole if possible.
Instructions:

  1. Place your stones, pebbles, marbles, beach glass or shell chips to a depth of about 2 inches in a small vase/votive or about 4 inches in a larger vase or bowl. 
  2. If planting in a small vase or glass, pot one single paperwhite bulb with the roots facing down, narrower end of the bulb facing up. If planting in a bigger container or pot, place a layer of paperwhite bulbs close together, again, with the roots facing down, narrower end facing up. 
  3. Put a few stones, pieces of beach glass or marbles around and between the bulbs to anchor them in the vase, bowl or glass. Gently push in bulb. Leave just the top of the bulb exposed.
  4. Add water until the level reaches just below the base of the bulb, but no higher (if the base of the bulb sits in water, it will rot). 
Rooting & Care:

  • Set your vase, container or pot in a cool place away from direct sunlight to encourage root growth. (50-60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal). 
  • Check the bulbs frequently and water thoroughly when dry. One inch below the surface (but not more than once a week until the bulbs begin active growth), or when the water level is more than an inch below the stones or glass in your vase.
  • Once a week, tug gently on the bulbs to see if they have begun to produce roots. When your tug meets with firm resistance (usually about 3 weeks after potting), move the container to a sunny window.
  • Keep a close eye on watering. Bulbs in active growth can dry out in just a day or two. Additional water should be added as fast as noticeable evaporation occurs. 
  • If planting in a vase or glass without a drainage hole, water with extra care: Bulbs sitting in a soggy pot will rot. Change water once a week if getting stagnant.
  • “Forced” Paperwhites tend to topple when in flower because they get quite tall in a short glass or small pot. You might want to stake them with a little wood post and some twine. Or just plant in a taller vase.
A few more tips…

  • ​​To stagger your display, plant bulbs at 2-3 week intervals. Bulbs generally bloom 4-6 weeks after potting. If you were going to plant a single bulb in a glass container for a shower favor that you want in bloom for the event, do so four weeks prior to the shower.
  • So if you want blooms for your Thanksgiving table, start paperwhites mid-September. For Christmas blooms, start them in mid-November. For continuous flowering throughout the winter right up to spring, start the first pot of bulbs in late October and continue planting at 2-3 week intervals. ​
When your paperwhites are done blooming, toss them in the compost pile. The bulbs sadly won’t bloom again. If staggering, store bulbs in a brown paper bag at room temperature in a dark place like a basement or garage. Open the bags to allow air to circulate around the bulbs. 

Did I mention how good paperwhites smell? Have you ever grown paperwhites or any other type of bulb indoors?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  10. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    I’ve gown FEW bulbs indoors. When I was a child in SE Kansas I experimented with planting a variety of bulbs, just like both my grandmothers did. Our yard was full of Daffodils & Easter Lilies, as well as peonies, forsythia, and quince which I’d divided and artistically placed; as well as iris. I even started red bud trees and mimosa trees from seed; which are still standing. And, I worked in our garden growing corn, potatoes, and more. Our cherry and apricot trees were a joy. In my 20s I grew many plants inside and decided plants were easier to grow outside. Mother nature helped water them outside and interesting plants could be chosen which were hardy in our growing zone. Children and vacations always required someone to care for inside plants when we traveled. So, gosh I must admit I’m aging; but, squirrels, rabbits, chickens, hawks, songbirds, deer, dogs, lizards, toads, snakes, frogs, cats, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and more are welcome to stop by our yard to get a drink, scratch for bugs, sip nectar, etc. A sprinkling system also helps mother nature out as well. Thus, with age indoor plants work best as accent pieces for me. Plus, living in SE Texas I have outdoor plants blooming year around. And, veggies & herbs are great grown outside too. Sorry for rambling. Eek!

    Reply

  30. Melinda Barlow says

    Have gotten as a gift but never tried. Going to do this next winter, getting ready to move in next couple of months.

    Reply

  43. Sandi McGinnis says

    I love this idea,and I’ve tried numerous times with different bulb types.Only mine want to rot before they sprout roots.I change the water when iij t begins to get cloudy,but it doesn’t seem to help.
    What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

  45. Ronnell Storie says

    I didn’t know that is what they were called. I pick them to put in vase for their fragrance. Never thought about planting them inside. Good article.

    Reply