
What to Do With Paperwhites After They Bloom
- For All Paperwhites Some general guidelines apply to saving paperwhites whether your plant blooms indoors in a pot or outdoors in your garden. ...
- Keep Them in Pots You can keep a potted paperwhite in the pot it came in with a little extra care. ...
- Plant Indoor Plants Outside Water your paperwhite houseplant and keep it in the sun until the foliage fades. ...
- Garden Plants ...
How to plant Paperwhite bulbs outside after blooming inside?
What to Do With Paperwhites After They Bloom
- For All Paperwhites. Some general guidelines apply to saving paperwhites whether your plant blooms indoors in a pot or outdoors in your garden.
- Keep Them in Pots. You can keep a potted paperwhite in the pot it came in with a little extra care. ...
- Plant Indoor Plants Outside. ...
- Garden Plants. ...
How to replant paperwhites indoors?
Planting Paperwhites in Soil
- Choose a Container and Add Soil
- When planting narcissus bulbs indoors, you'll need to first select a container. ...
- Set the Winter Flowering Bulbs on the Soil
- Arrange paperwhite bulbs on top of the soil so that their sides aren't touching.
- Add More Soil to Bury the Bulbs
- Fill in around the bulbs with potting soil. ...
- Water the Soil
How to grow and care for paperwhites?
Warning
- Add Water. Add enough water to the container, so the level just reaches the base of the bulb. ...
- Root the Bulb. At this point, the bulb should be kept on the cool side at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
- Move the Pot Into Sunlight. ...
- Enjoy Your Blooms While They Last. ...
How to grow paperwhites indoors?
Instructions
- Prepare a Container. Select a container that's about 3 to 4 inches deep and does not have drainage holes. ...
- Position the Bulbs. Position the paperwhite bulbs with the pointed end up on top of the stone layer. ...
- Add Water. ...
- Root the Bulbs. ...
- Move the Pot Into Sunlight. ...
- Enjoy Your Blooms While They Last. ...

What to do with paperwhites when they are done blooming?
You need to let the leaves die back naturally on their own. While the flowers are done blooming, the leaves provide nutrients to the bulb for next year. I continue to water the bulbs every 2-3 days. If you live in Zone 8 or higher, you can put the bulbs outside.
Can paperwhite bulbs be reused?
When paperwhite bulbs are forced, they cannot be reused or regrown; however, when planted in soil and allowed to grow and bloom on their timing, you can reuse or regrow paperwhites every year. Plan on planting your paperwhites outdoors in October or November in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 11.
What do you do with bulbs after they bloom indoors?
Clip off dead blooms, leaving the foliage intact. Set containers in a sunny window indoors, or a bright, but protected spot outside and continue watering as usual. Allow the soil to dry out completely once the leaves have withered and died. Set the pots in a cool, dry place in a basement, garage, or shed.
Should you deadhead paperwhites?
You can deadhead them as they start to wilt, but continue to enjoy the foliage. Deadhead paperwhite blooms as they start to fade, so you can continue to enjoy the foliage.
How do I save my paperwhites for next year?
Keep Them in Pots About six weeks after the paperwhite blooms, turn the pot on its side and store it somewhere where it will not freeze, such as a garage or basement. In the fall, turn the pot upright, place it in the sun, water the bulb thoroughly and continue watering until the paperwhite blooms again in the spring.
How do you save bulbs for next year?
Allow the bulbs to dry for a few days, then store them on paper in a cardboard box. Use a garage or refrigerator to store the bulbs in cool, dark spot, and replant them in compost-amended soil in the spring.
Can you leave bulbs in pots over winter?
Keep Bulbs Cold But Not TOO Cold This means you'll need to store your potted bulbs through the winter in a place that stays colder than 48° F most of the time but that doesn't get as severely cold as it is outside. A simple pot of bulbs can have a dramatic impact.
Can I leave bulbs in pots after flowering?
You may keep the bulbs in pots after flowering, but it is a good idea to introduce some new soil with all its nutrients and fertilize again. You may also remove the bulbs, let them air dry, and put them in a paper bag in a location with the proper chilling requirements until you are ready to force them again.
How do you care for indoor paperwhites?
Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. 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.
When can you cut back paperwhites?
Don't cut back the foliage after the flowers fade; wait until the leaves have withered to allow the plants to restock their food supply. At that point, cut the foliage to the ground, and wait for next year's floral display.
How do I stop my paperwhites from getting leggy?
Paperwhites get leggy for two reasons. Either they were grown in a room that's too warm (above 65°F) or they didn't get enough light. For stocky plants, grow the bulbs in a cool room (50-60°F) and make sure they get lots of bright, indirect light.
How do I get my paperwhites to bloom again?
Fill a 3- to 4-inch deep container with a 1- or 2-inch layer of stones, marbles or gravel. ... Place the paperwhite bulbs on the layer of stones. ... Cover the bulbs with enough stones to keep them in place.Add water to cover the bottom half of the bulbs. ... Place the bulbs near a sunny window.
What can I do with old paperwhite bulbs?
Many people toss out forced paperwhite bulbs when the blooms are off the plants, but an option is to transplant the bulbs, yellowing foliage and all, into a sunny garden site. If you forced the bulbs in material such as stones or shells, then the bulbs may take two years to restock their reserves and flower again.
Will paperwhite bulbs bloom again?
Paperwhites can be grown indoors and forced to bloom during the holiday season. With the proper care, you can save and preserve paperwhite bulbs to bloom again. However, they do require time to replenish their energy stores, and may not re-bloom for two or three years.
How do I stop my paperwhites from getting leggy?
Paperwhites get leggy for two reasons. Either they were grown in a room that's too warm (above 65°F) or they didn't get enough light. For stocky plants, grow the bulbs in a cool room (50-60°F) and make sure they get lots of bright, indirect light.
How long can paperwhite bulbs be stored?
Store the paperwhite bulbs for three to four months in the bag. Remove the bulbs from the bag when you are ready to plant them. If you find any bulbs with green shoots, plant these bulbs as soon as possible.
What do paperwhites smell like?
Paperwhites have a sweet, heady fragrance, like many Narcissus species. What you do with paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta ssp. papyraceus) after they bloom is largely a function of what you do with them before they bloom.
How to force bulbs to bloom?
Most bulbs require a period of refrigeration to bloom in winter, but paperwhites do not. Plant them close together, pointy ends up, in soil, stones or sea glass, with the top one-half of each bulb sticking out of the material. Keep the soil moist, or, if you use stones or shells, maintain a water level up to 3/4 inch from the top of that material. The flowers should bloom in about one month.
Do paperwhites bloom outside?
The outdoor plants stay outdoors after they finishing flowering to bloom the next year while spent indoor paperwhites either are tossed in the garbage or planted outside. Their flowers' pure-white coronas and petals distinguish paperwhites from their relatives. Advertisement.
How long do bulbs bloom in California?
More likely, however, you will not get a bloom for two or three years. In other regions, you will probably not have any success with a rebloom and the bulbs should be composted.
Do paperwhites need chilling?
Image by JodieR. Paperwhites are a form of Narcissus, closely related to daffodils. The plants are common winter gift bulbs which do not need chilling and are available year round. Getting paperwhites to rebloom after the first flowering is a tricky proposition.
Can paperwhite bulbs be rebloomed in Zone 10?
Remember, paperwhite bulb reblooming in zone 10 may be possible, but even this ideal condition is not a sure-fire prospect.
Can paperwhites grow in gravel?
It is quite common to grow paperwhites in a glass container with marbles or gravel at the bottom. The bulb is suspended on this medium and water provides the remainder of the growing situation. However, when bulbs are grown this way, they cannot gather and store any additional nutrients from their roots. This makes them energy deficient and there is no way you can get another bloom.
Can Paperwhite Flowers Rebloom?
Once the bulbs have flowered, it can be difficult to get another bloom in the same season. Sometimes if you plant them outside in USDA zone 10, you may get another bloom the next year but usually paperwhite bulb reblooming will take up to three years.
How long does it take for paperwhites to bloom?
Paperwhites that were grown for indoor forcing have used most of their energy to produce their fragrant indoor blooms. Therefore, it may take up to 5 years for the bulbs to produce a bloom if they are re-planted. Most people who grow paperwhites for indoor blooms choose to discard the bulbs after they bloom, and will purchase again the following season. If you are planting the paperwhite bulbs outside in the garden, you will want to leave the leaves intact until they yellow and wither, and allow the bulbs to go dormant for summer.
How to grow paperwhites in a pot?
If you didn’t purchase the paperwhite bulbs in a kit, you will need to find a pot that has drain holes and purchase some potting soil for container gardens. Fill the container with your loose and well-drained potting mix to about 1/3 full. Place the paperwhite bulbs with the pointed end facing up, the bulbs can be very close together in the pot. Fill the soil with more soil, but leave the top part of the bulb visible. Water the container until you see the water coming through the bottom of the pot. Until sprouts form, you will want to keep the soil slightly damp, but not too moist or overly saturated.
Why do paperwhites rot?
When growing paperwhites in a vase or glass container, the most important thing is to ensure that the bulbs are not touching the water. If the bottom of the bulb is sitting in water it will more than likely cause the bulb to rot from lack of air and too much moisture.
What bulbs are good for forcing?
Paperwhites are some of the easiest flower bulbs for indoor forcing. Besides amaryllis, paperwhite bulbs rank as the best choice for people who are forcing blooms in their home. While they are among the easiest bulbs to grow inside they are also among the most fragrant of blooms for indoor forcing. The fragrance is a bit controversial; some gardeners love the strong scent they bring, while others may find the scent to be a bit overwhelming. If you love the fragrance of paperwhite blooms, or are unsure how you feel about them, but want easy blooms in your home this winter read my 5 planting tips for growing paperwhite flowers.
