Forcing flower bulbs indoors is an excellent way to brighten the cold, gray days of winter. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, and other spring-flowering bulbs can be forced indoors. Paperwhite narcissus can also be forced indoors. Paperwhite narcissus are easy to force. Unlike tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses, paperwhite narcissus don't require a cold storage period to flower.
Cultivars & Varerieties | How to Grow Paperwhites | After Bloom Care | More Information
Cultivars and Varieties
Several paperwhite narcissus varieties are available to home gardeners. Commonly grown varieties include:
- 'Bethlehem' (creamy white petals, yellow cup)
- 'Galilee' (pure white flowers)
- 'Grand Soleil d'Or' (yellow petals, orange cup)
- 'Israel' (creamy yellow petals, sulfur yellow cup)
- 'Jerusalem' (pure white flowers)
- 'Nazareth' (soft yellow petals, bright yellow cup)
- 'Ziva' (pure white flowers).
All of the aforementioned varieties produce flowers with a musky fragrance except 'Grand Soleil d'Or'. This variety takes 1 to 2 weeks longer to force than other paperwhites. It also doesn't bloom as heavily as other varieties. However, 'Grand Soleil d'Or' has a sweet, fruity fragrance.
How to Grow Paperwhites
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs can be forced in clear, shallow bowls (no drainage holes) or pots. When forcing paperwhite narcissus in bowls, partially fill the container with washed gravel or stones. Place the bulbs on the gravel or stones. Then place additional gravel or stones around the bulbs, leaving the tips (noses) of the bulbs exposed. Add water to the bowl until it touches the bottom of the bulbs. Maintain the water at this level throughout the forcing period.
When forcing paperwhites in pots, partially fill the container with potting soil. Place the bulbs on the soil surface. Then add additional potting soil. When potted, the tips of the bulbs should stick above the potting soil. Water the potting soil thoroughly and then let it drain for a few minutes. Keep the potting soil moist throughout the forcing period.
Place the planted bulbs in a cool (45° to 50°F), dark location for 2 to 3 weeks to encourage root growth. When the shoots reach a height of 3 inches, move the plants to a sunny window with a temperature of 60° to 70°F. Paperwhites often require staking as plants may reach a height of 18 to 20 inches. To prolong their bloom period, move the paperwhite narcissus from direct sunlight when the plants begin to flower.
Care After Bloom
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs should be discarded after flowering. Paperwhites can't be forced again and are not winter-hardy outdoors.
More Information
- How do you force paperwhite narcissus?
- Can paperwhite narcissus bulbs be saved after they have been forced indoors?
- Can you list some varieties of paperwhite narcissus?
- Caring for Holiday Plants