How fast do paperwhites grow?
With a little water, they rapidly form roots, grow leaves and shoots. The white, fragrant flowers usually open up within 2-3 weeks of planting. A common problem with paperwhites, however, is that they often grow too tall and flop over. Paperwhites will bloom in about two to four weeks. Once the plants begin to bloom, the floral display typically lasts one to two weeks. For longest bloom, keep the soil moist and move the pot out of direct sun. Paperwhite bulbs will not bloom again after pot-forcing and can be composted after flowering.Paperwhites can actually be planted indoors any time of year, but the bulbs typically don’t start to become available until September if you’re keen on a Halloween bloom, and you’ll only really start seeing them available in large numbers in October so they can be planted up in early November and bloom in time for .Answer: Paperwhite narcissus bulbs should be discarded after flowering. Paperwhites cannot be successfully forced again and are not winter hardy outdoors. Learn more about growing paperwhites in this article: Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs.Plant the bulbs about 6 deep and 4 apart. There are only a few areas in the country (S. California and parts of Texas) that have the hot, dry weather conditions that paperwhites require for long-term success. In other areas where paperwhites are hardy (zones 8-11), the bulbs are treated as annuals.
How to stop paperwhites from growing too tall?
Paperwhite stems can become very tall and leggy as they stretch towards the light and sometimes flop. To keep the stems from flopping you can keep the stems shorter and stockier by giving them little nip of alcohol. Paperwhite can grow to be quite tall and top-heavy, resulting in floppy foliage and drooping flowers. To prevent this from happening simply get your paperwhites “drunk. The Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University has proven that a diluted alcohol solution can reduce paperwhites’ growth by 1/3 to 1/2.Recent research conducted by the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University has found a simple and effective way to reduce stem and leaf growth of paperwhites. The “secret” is using dilute solutions of alcohol.Paperwhite stems can become very tall and leggy as they stretch towards the light and sometimes flop. To keep the stems from flopping you can keep the stems shorter and stockier by giving them little nip of alcohol.Caring for Your Paperwhites For those planted in soil, check frequently to see when the soil is dry one inch below the surface. Rotate the container every few days to keep the plants from reaching toward the sun and keep them straight. Once the blooms begin to wilt, deadhead them to continue enjoying the foliage.Paperwhites are very easy to force in either moist potting soil or water. The water trick is the simplest: Stick bulbs part-ways into clean gravel, glass beads, or other loose material in which roots will grow and intertwine to support the top-heavy growing plants so they don’t tip over.
Can paperwhites be planted outside?
Paperwhites also like to stay moist, so keep the bulb or potting medium damp. Paperwhites are not fussy to force but they can only be forced once. The bulbs can only be planted outdoors in USDA zones 8-11. Once the Paperwhites are done flowering they can be discarded as the forced bulbs will not flower again. Even in warm climates, paperwhites are usually treated as annuals. The bulbs require hot, dry summers in order to produce a good show of flowers the following year. For this reason, they are considered perennials only in Southern California and parts of Texas.Hardy bulbs are treated as perennials, left in the ground year after year. Every three to four years they may need to be replaced or divided if they start to crowd each other and are not blooming well.Still attached to the same main bulb they came from, these new bulbs will not conventionally spread throughout the garden as other spreading flowers might. Instead, they will just continue to bloom with more foliage and flowers in the same clump.
What do you do with paperwhites once they bloom?
Maintain your paperwhite greens like you would a houseplant until the foliage dies back, usually around mid-july. Take them out of the soil, put them in a paper bag, and keep them in a cool, dry location until the fall. Then you can re-pot your paperwhite bulbs all over! Properly cared for amaryllis bulbs will flower every year. paperwhite bulbs planted indoors or outside will typically only flower every 2-3 years. Often when planted in large groups, some will flower each year while the others provide supporting foliage.Even in warm climates, paperwhites are usually treated as annuals. The bulbs require hot, dry summers in order to produce a good show of flowers the following year. For this reason, they are considered perennials only in Southern California and parts of Texas.
Do paperwhites like sun or shade?
Place your pot in a sunny, warm location. Paperwhites are tropical bulbs and prefer temperatures around 70°F. If you place your Paperwhites for 3 to 4 weeks in a cooler place (45-55° F) directly after planting, they generally stay shorter which prevents them from falling over when in full bloom. Once the blooms are spent, you can cut the stalks down at the base of the plant and leave the foliage. Maintain your paperwhite greens like you would a houseplant until the foliage dies back, usually around mid-July.