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Growing paperwhites

December 10, 2010 by Andrea Bellamy 11 Comments

paperwhite bulbs

There’s really nothing simpler.

1. Place paperwhite bulbs in jar/vase/pot/bowl.
2. Cover the bottom two-thirds of the bulbs with potting soil, pebbles, or marbles.
3. Add water.
4. Stand back.

paperwhites and watering can

Most paperwhite-growing advice says the bulbs take about six weeks to mature, but that simply isn’t true. These guys were blooming in two-and-a-half weeks. That means there’s still time to grow them as Christmas or holiday housewarming gifts.

paperwhite blooms

Talk about almost instant gratification.

paperwhites

In six weeks, they’ll be flopping all over the place (unless you included booze in their watering schedule).

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Filed Under: Bulbs and Tubers, Indoors

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    December 10, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Okay, paperwhites are easy, but what about hyacinths? I started some a full month ago and they are growing SO slowly–I have about 1/2 inch of stem pushing up from each bulb. Any idea what I might be doing wrong? (I am 95% positive that I bought the correct “hyacinths for forcing” at the nursery…)

  2. Joseph Tychonievich says

    December 10, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    You forgot to mention: they STINK. So pretty, but I can’t stand the smell.

  3. Andrea Bellamy says

    December 10, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    Joseph – I rather like the smell :)

  4. Laura says

    December 10, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Paperwhites get me all nostalgic. Very pretty.

  5. Zoe says

    December 11, 2010 at 5:58 am

    Yours are lovely! It seems to be a love/hate thing with the smell, kind of like how folks either crave the taste of cilantro or gag at the mention of it… I love the scent, but my boyfriend acts like someone potted up a skunk and stuck it on the kitchen counter… So we are a paperwhite-less abode, I’m afraid.

  6. tifanie says

    December 13, 2010 at 10:18 am

    oh wow! i need to run out and get bulbs. i completely forgot about doing this and i love, love paperwhites! i’ve grown amaryllis as well, but the paperwhites smell so good, don’t they? :::

  7. Elena says

    December 16, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Beautiful pictures!!!

  8. Elena says

    December 16, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Amazing pictures :)

  9. phyte club katie says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    In regards to booze stunting the paperwhites’ otherwise vigorous growth upward, perhaps this is why I’m so short?!

  10. Planters Wholesale says

    January 3, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Who cares about the smell? This is an idea of which I had never even thought and I find it so interesting that I’m considering trying the same method of “sprouting” other species of “enjoyable” plants such as “lilies” and other springtime bulbs which have small bulbs or corms. Lastly, I think the photography for this post is great as I really like the “backdrop” of the window/wall within which are the stems. Thanks!

  11. Jackie Connelly says

    January 3, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    I was just given some of these as a Christmas gift – and I was also told to keep them somewhere cool while they’re growing (the first little flower has not yet opened, but has just appeared). So, they’re sitting in my laundry room for now, I guess I’ll bring them out when they flower and see how I like the fragrance?!

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