More Than Just Décor
This time of year we all love the pumpkins and sunflowers that come with fall and Thanksgiving decor, but what about bulbs? My name is Doris, and I am writing to share a little bit of my story with The Bulb Hunter. The Bulb Hunter and his love for bulbs started at a very young age when something that looked like a little brown rock turned into something beautiful. My hope is that I can have a similar experience.
If you’re anything like me you always thought that bulbs only bloomed in the spring, but that is far from the truth. You can have different bulbs blooming all year long! That means even for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. I have recently been learning about Narcissus papyraceous ‘Paperwhites’ and I’d love to share with you how you can plant them inside this holiday season!
Things I will cover in this post:
- A small history of paperwhites
- Why you should choose paperwhites
- What you need to grow them indoors
- Growing guide
A Small History
Paperwhites are native to the Mediterranean region and first came to the U.S. in the 19th century. They used to be used as a status of wealth among those who did ornamental gardening and enjoyed forcing bulbs to bloom indoors. Thankfully they are much more common and have become a big part of holiday gardening traditions. They became popular because of their ability to bloom indoors in the winter months. As well as only taking about 6-8 weeks to bloom, while most other bulbs take months to settle and bloom.
These bulbs have a strong, sweet, and musky fragrance that has attributed to their popularity as an indoor plant for the holiday season. So while the leaves might be falling and the gardens dying off you can still have beauty inside.
Why Choose Paperwhites?
- Easy to Grow: Paperwhites are among the simplest bulbs to grow indoors. They need minimal care, and you can enjoy blooms within 6 to 8 weeks of planting.
- Fragrant Blooms: Their scent is distinct—strong and musky. While the fragrance is adored by many, be aware that it can be quite potent, especially in small spaces.
- Winter Cheer: With their clean, white flowers, paperwhites bring a natural brightness to a season when many gardens lie dormant.
- Flexible Growing Options: These bulbs can be grown in water, or soil, allowing for a variety of decorative options.
How to Grow Paperwhites
Supplies Needed
- Paperwhite bulbs (available on our website: Paperwhites)
- Containers (shallow glass vases, bowls, or ceramic pots work well)
- Growing medium:
- For Water Growing: Pebbles, stones, or marbles
- For Soil Growing: Lightweight potting soil
Step-by-Step Guide
- Choose a Container
The container you choose doesn’t need drainage if you’re growing in water. For soil planting, however, a container with drainage holes is ideal to prevent waterlogging. - Planting in Water
- Add a layer of pebbles, stones, or marbles about 1-2 inches deep in your container.
- Nestle the bulbs into the pebbles, pointed end up, so that they are secure and won’t tip over as they grow. Still leaving the top half of the bulb above the planting medium.
- Add water to the container, stopping just below the base of the bulbs. You want the water to touch the bottom of the bulbs but not submerge them fully.
- Planting in Soil
- Fill your container with a few inches of potting soil, place the bulbs closely together on the soil surface, and then add more soil around them to cover the bottom half of each bulb.
- Water gently to settle the soil around the bulbs.
- Location and Light
- Place the container in a bright, indirect light location. A sunny windowsill is ideal, though they can also handle lower light conditions if necessary. Making sure the get at least 6 hours of light a day.
- Once the bulbs start to sprout, you may need to rotate the container periodically to prevent the stems from leaning too far toward the light source.
- Watering
- For water-planted paperwhites, check the water level every few days to ensure it touches the bulb base.
- For soil-grown paperwhites, keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy.
Now you can sit back, relax and enjoy watching your paperwhites grow! I sure have been enjoying watching mine!
After Blooming
Unfortunately, paperwhites grown indoors won’t reliably rebloom. Once the flowers fade, you can compost the bulbs or discard them. If you live in a warm, mild climate, you may try planting the used bulbs outdoors, but be patient because they may not bloom again right away.
I hope you enjoy your paperwhites all holiday season long, cause I know I will be!
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