The narcissus genus also includes daffodils and jonquils.
Forced bulbs planted in pots or in water-filled vases are a traditionalholiday gift plant.
Here’s how to grow paperwhite flowers in your home or garden.
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When plants begin to bloom, move them to a cool place with indirect light.
This will help extend the bloom period.
Paperwhite bulbs planted outdoors in warm regions can grow well in full sun or part shade.
Leave the top of the bulbs above the soil line.
Add water just to the base of the bulbs so the roots are submerged.
Water
Water potted indoor paperwhites when the top inch or so of soil has dried out.
Temperature and Humidity
Once paperwhites flower, cooler temperatures will help preserve blooms.
Move plants to the coolest place in your home with indirect light after flowers appear.
Paperwhite bulbs don’t require a chilling period the way some other bulbs do.
However, these Mediterranean native plants require hot, dry summers to bloom repeatedly as outdoor perennials.
Outdoor plants are resistant to deer and rabbits.
How to Get Paperwhites to Bloom
Paperwhites will bloom more quickly the longer they’re stored.
Brightly lit conditions will support faster blooming.
Bloom Months
Paperwhites bloom in winter and spring, depending on when they are planted.
Bulbs are often planted in November for December blooms.
How Long Do Paperwhite Flowers Bloom?
Once blooms appear, you’re able to expect them to remain for two to three weeks.
Move flowers to the coolest part of your house out of direct sunlight to extend bloom time.
Warm temperatures and too much sun can cause healthy flowers to deteriorate more quickly.
What Do Paperwhite Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Flowers may be pure white, white with yellow cups, all yellow, or yellow with orange cups.
All paperwhites are prized for their pleasant scent, but yellow-flowered varieties have a reputation for stronger fragrance.
Spent flowers on outdoor paperwhites can be removed for the same reason.
Plants will grow shorter, but their flowers will be unaffected.
To prevent this, inspect paperwhite bulbs before planting.
Only plant firm, healthy-looking bulbs to help prevent basal rot.
Forced paperwhites grown indoors will bloom only once before bulbs should be discarded.
Paperwhites planted outdoors in the fall in frost-free climates will bloom once, in late winter.
Only in hot, dry regions in these growing zones will paperwhites bloom more than once.
Forced paperwhite bulbs should be discarded after the last of their flowers are spent.
Home Forcing of Potted Paperwhite (Narcissus).NC State Extension.
Reblooming paperwhite narcissus.New Mexico State University.
Paperwhite Narcissus.University of Florida Gardening Solutions.
Pickling your paperwhites.Cornell University Flower Bulb Research Program.
Can paperwhite narcissus bulbs be saved after they have been forced indoors?Iowa State University Extension.
