How to Grow Paperwhites Indoors

Paperwhites or Narcissus papyraceus is a daffodil like plant native to the Mediterranean region with long stalks that are topped with clusters of dainty white flowers. I’ve seen these beauties in stores but never realized growing them indoors was easy until I read up on them online. So this Fall early December (didn’t get around to planting them till Jan) I was determined to find myself a few bulbs to try it first hand. The verdict? Don’t let that long botanical name intimidate you, they are the easiest plant to grow indoors easier than even the Pothos (read more about hardy indoor plants)! And super fragrant too.

Supplies

Paperwhite bulbs

A bowl – Any kind would do. Any guesses as to what I used?

Gravel/ Stones/ Marbles – Again, the day I planted them the yard was covered in snow. So didn’t get a chance to go pick some stones from the yard. I ended up using a mixture of aquarium rocks, glass decorative beads, and marbles.

Ok, that pic should have been a dead giveaway on what I used as the planter? 😉 Nope, not letting the secret out yet. Keep guessing……

Method

• Add the gravel/ stones/ marbles to your bowl so that they reach half way up.

• Place the bulbs on the gravel/ marbles root side down, i.e the pointy side up.

• Add water to the bowl so that the bottom of the bulbs touch the water. Adding more water will cause the bulb to rot so keep an eye on the water level.
• Wait and watch. Replenish the water as needed (ever other day for me).

In exactly 2 weeks they looked like this! Talk about instant gratification. The fun part was the kids’ reactions each day. They would come down every morning and gasp at how much they plants had grown. My son even claimed those bulbs were on steroids!

There was one over achiever that had a bud, the rest are still catching up.

On day 16 we had our first paperwhite flower. It seems the flower head will get bigger as the week goes by blooming for another week or so. After which they start to wilt. At this point you could remove them from the bowl and plant outdoors in the garden.

So what do you think was the bowl? 🙂 Brownie points for all of you who guessed a light fixture! Yup, it was the glass shade of the old ceiling light fixture from our laundry room. I just balanced it on an empty pasta jar lid.

Don’t ya just love when you can re-purpose things around the house? Have you forced bulbs? Do you plant them in the garden after the flowers die?

PS: I’m over at Remodelaholic today sharing how I made the painted baskets for the coat closet.

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