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. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

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

    • 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.

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Comments

View all 7 Comments
  • tongsan Jan 05, 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.
  • tongsan Jan 05, 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.
  • Jan 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.
  • Jan 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.
  • Nov 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.

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