Grow Paperwhites Indoors
Posted on January 31, 2015 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus bulbs to bloom indoors gives you the luxury of a garden within your home anytime of the 
year. Paperwhites beautify the home or can be gifted as a starter project. I usually begin after Thanksgiving with a few bulbs and add a few more the next week, and then the next. It is an easy and worthwhile project that requires just a few materials and steps, yet provides a unique experience along with fragrance and beautiful blooms. All you need are:
1) clean containers
2) marble chips
3) bulbs
I shop for containers in which to grow Paperwhites all year. I prefer to see the action, so I like to use glass containers. They can be as short as 4 inches or as tall as 18 inches.
To begin, put about 1½ inches of marble chips into the bottom of your container. Put bulbs root side down, about 1 inch apart. Add water to the top of thr chips. Place in sunlight for approximately two weeks. Check the water level often. If the water level is too deep, it will rot the bulbs.
When greenery gets about 3 inches tall, begin rotating the container towards the sunlight so your plants will stay erect. You might need to stake or loosely tie greenery together.
Growing Paperwhites allows you to enjoy the uniqueness, beauty and fragrance of these flowers for yourself. The process is educational, producing results which can be used as lovely centerpieces or wonderful gifts. You can even make a do-it-yourself kit to give as a gift and include the container, marble chips, and bulbs.
When blooms are spent, toss the bulbs into the flower bed and look forward to another surprise next year. And don’t forget to wash your indoor containers and marbles to get ready for the next season of beautiful winter blooms.
Cheryl Hitch, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association, lives in Montgomery. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com.
