How to Force Paper-White Narcissus in Pots

Get an early taste of spring by forcing paper-white narcissus bulbs into bloom. Plant in pots in fall and early winter, and you'll have flowers in six weeks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ceramic Pots
• Paper-whites
• Potting Soil
• Terra-cotta Pots

1. Purchase healthy, high-quality paper-white bulbs free of bruises or soft spots. You can start forcing paper-whites as soon as you can buy them in fall and continue planting every two weeks until you can no longer find quality bulbs - usually late winter to spring.

2. Select clay, ceramic or plastic pots with drainage holes. An 8-inch-wide pot will hold 8 to 10 bulbs.

3. Fill pots partially with potting soil. Put in just enough so that when bulbs are added, the tops of the bulbs are just below the top of the pot.

4. Place the bulbs in the pot, pointed side up. Pack them in as tightly as you can. They should touch one another.

5. Fill the rest of the pot with enough potting soil to cover bulbs, but leaving enough room to water.

6. Water the pot thoroughly.

7. Place the pot in a warm, well-lighted indoor location (such as a sunny window) and keep the soil moist. Paper-whites usually bloom in about six weeks.

8. After blooming, if the soil is not frozen, plant the bulbs outside and keep them moist.

Tips & Warnings

• Most bulbs can only be forced once. They may bloom next year, but most likely will not.
• Provide as much light as possible while the foliage is growing. Once you see flower buds, you can move the pots to wherever you want.
• Shallow, wide pots work especially well when forcing paper-whites. They can hold more bulbs without getting too heavy.
• Paper-whites are one of the few bulbs that can be forced without first being chilled. Tulips and most other spring-flowering bulbs need special cold treatment before they'll bloom.

[tongsan]

on 1/5/2007 my aunt told me this trick, which i haven't yet tried--a few drops of gin (!!) in the water you give paperwhites helps prevent droop. at least worth a try, if you can spare the gin.

on 1/26/2006 Use thin tree branches with lovely curves among the greenery- I haven't needed to even tie them, but if you do use some wet raffia.

on 11/22/2005 I tie a ribbon around the stems when the flowers grow tall. This keeps them upright and together. I either use a white string or a ribbon.

on 11/22/2005 I plant my paper whites in a vase with a tiny bit of charcoal in the bottom then some attractive stones or marbles. Place the bulbs on top and support them with more stones. Keep water levels just below the bulb. Clear glass shows the roots!

on 11/22/2005 I put my paperwhites in tall, round, inexpensive clear glass vases - growing only three to a vase. This method kept them straight and they didn't fall over. I put a beautiful white bow on the vase and they made fabulous gifts!!