Forcing Paperwhites

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-609 -- More Projects »
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Get a jumpstart on spring flowers by forcing fragrant paperwhites indoors.
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Typically bulbs are planted in soil, but with paperwhites, you can use stone and marble to create an elegant look.
Who says you can't have a blooming garden in the middle of winter? You can grow bulbs indoors.

Planting Paperwhites

Paperwhites make the perfect winter-white garden. The first thing you need to do to grow your own is pick up some paperwhite bulbs at the garden center. These bulbs don't require cold storage.

You'll need a container that doesn't have drainage because you want the water to sit. Any kind of container will do. Glass is nice because you can see the marbles and roots inside.

To plant your paperwhites:

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Figure A
  • First, fill your container about a half to three-quarters full of stone.

  • Gently place the bulbs on top of the stone; don't be afraid to pack them in (figure A).

  • Slowly pour water into the container. Make sure the water falls just below the bulb line. If the bulbs sit in the water, they'll rot. The roots will seek out the water and get the moisture they need.

    In about six weeks, you'll have fragrant and blooming bulbs.

    Water Culture

    Forcing bulbs in water and pebbles, instead of potting medium, is known as water culture. The process begins by selecting a low, wide container, three to five inches deep, with no drainage holes. Good container materials include clay, glass and ceramic. Anchoring materials may be small pebbles, gravel or marbles--from pea-sized to 1/2-inch diameter--and should be washed and drained before using.

  • Fill the container about one-half to three-quarters full with pebbles.

  • Gently place the bulbs on the pebbles, close enough together to be nearly touching. Anchor the bulbs by heaping the pebbles around them. Do not disturb the delicate bulbs after planting.

  • Gently pour in water at the side of the container. Because the bulbs have a tendency to decay at the base, take care not to let the water level reach the base of the bulbs.

  • Although not necessary, place the container in a cool, dark place for two weeks (to help the bulbs root) before moving to a warmer, sunny area. Add water as needed since evaporation and root uptake deplete the supply. No fertilizer applications are needed.

    If you want to plant in succession and have waves of flowers in full bloom, check on your unplanted bulbs as time passes to make sure that they aren't sprouting too much. Any bulb that has sprouts over two inches long should be planted within a few days.

    Temperature is also important: the cooler the room, the longer it takes for the flower to bloom. But when it does start to bloom, the bulb will stay in flower longer. If the plants must be in a warm room, try to place them in a cooler room at night.

    • Also in this Episode
    Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-609
    •Ornaments From the Garden
    •Razzleberry Pie
    •North Woods Table
    •Forcing Paperwhites
    •Poinsettias
    •Gift Wrap, Naturally