One of the simplest and most rewarding winter gardening projects to take on is forcing (coaxing) paperwhite narcissus to bloom indoors. In just 4 to 6 weeks after planting, you will see slender stocks produce intensely fragrant and delicate blooms. We are planting up paperwhites now for the holidays ahead and you can too. By planting additional pots of paperwhites every ten days to two weeks, you can have continuous displays of blooms all winter long.
Forcing Paperwhites in Pots
In a 6-8″ glass dish, or terracotta cactus dish, (preferably without a drainage hole) place 5 to 7 paperwhite bulbs pointed side up over a layer of sand, pebbles, or florist’s marbles. (Place enough sand, pebbles, etc. under the bulbs so that the shoulders of the bulbs are just below the rim of the dish.)
Partially cover the bulbs with an additional layer of sand, pebbles, etc. and add water. Maintain the water level just below the bottom of the bulbs, so they are not soggy wet, just moist.
You can also plant them in a pot with drainage. Nestle the bulbs into Master’s Professional Potting Soil, add water and enjoy – add decorative rocks as a top layer.
Keep the bulbs in a cool place (55 to 60 degrees) for a couple of weeks, watering as needed to keep them from drying out. When the sprouts are about 4″ tall, bring them into the light and warmth of your home where they will continue to grow and bloom. Pinch off spent blooms so you can continue to enjoy the unfurling beauty.
