Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus to Brighten the Season

    * Select bulbs carefully.  The bigger the bulb, the larger the flowers you’ll get.  Choose bulbs that are firm.  Soft bulbs are likely to rot during forcing.

     * Container selection.  Paperwhites can be forced in just about any container.  If you will be growing just one bulb, a hyacinth forcing jar works well.  For more than one bulb try a ceramic pot or a large glass container.

     * Planting.  You can plant paperwhites in water or soil.  For water forcing one paperwhite, place the bulb just above the water in a hyacinth forcing jar or similar container that has an hour-glass shape.

     A group of bulbs should be grown in a shallow, drainless dish in sand, polished pebbles, marbles or soil.

     Plant paperwhites tip-end up with one-half to three-quarters of the bulb covered.  When planting in pebbles or marbles, don’t fill the container completely, because paperwhites have a large root system and they need room for expansion.  Excess pebbles or marbles will pop out of the container as the bulbs grow

Because you are planting in a drainless dish, it’s important to keep the water level just below the bulbs or they could rot. This task is easily accomplished if you are planting in a clear container like a glass dish.  When planting in soil, check with your finger to make sure that the bottom of the bulb is not sitting in water.

Plant paperwhites one to two inches apart. They aren’t using the soil for nutrients in order to flower so they can be planted close together.

       * Forcing.

     1) Place the bulbs in a cool, dark location for four to six weeks, or until the plants are 3-4 inches tall.  Keep them moist, but not soggy.

     2) Move bulbs to a dimly lit area for a week.  You may need to prop the foliage as the plants grow to avoid flopping.

     3) Transfer the plants to an area with medium light.  At this point you may see flower buds starting to form at the foliage tips.  The foliage should also be greening up.

     4) Place the bulbs in a bright final destination that is free of drafts.  Strong light helps stunt their growth, keeping the flower stalks compact and standing straight.  Paperwhite blooms last about a week.

     For a continual display of narcissus throughout winter, do succession planting.