Forcing Paperwhites Indoors
You don't have to wait until spring to enjoy the fragrance and beauty of springtime blooms - just force some bulbs indoors.
Forcing is the process of speeding up a bulb’s development by simulating the conditions of winter and spring - it's a way of fooling Mother Nature and tricking the bulb to bloom before its natural time. Last week, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, planted separate containers of paperwhites - some in soil and some using gravel we already had at the farm. Paperwhites need about five to six weeks from planting to bloom. I can’t wait to see these beautiful flowers open.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- This paperwhite variety is Narcissus Nir. Its stems are shorter and its flowers are larger and showier than other paperwhites. It also has a sweet fragrance that’s not too strong or overpowering. Our paperwhites are from Colorblends Flower Bulbs – a third-generation wholesale flower merchant in nearby Bridgeport, Connecticut. https://www.colorblends.com/
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- Natural pebbles, such as pea stone or even gravel from the driveway will work for planting. Just be sure it is well cleaned before placing in the container.
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- And any waterproof container can be used for forcing bulbs as long as there are at least four inches of space below the bulbs to accommodate root growth.
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- Ryan fills two of these large bowl vessels with clean pebbles, up to an inch from the top.
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- There are two types of bulbs for indoor growing: those you need to chill and those you don’t. These bulbs do not need chilling. These can either be forced using soil or by using gravel and water. Here, we are using the gravel.
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- One by one, Ryan places the bulbs on top of the pebbles, point up, next to one another. Don’t worry about crowding – the more the merrier.
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- Paperwhites grow easily in well-drained gravel, good daylight, and temperatures ranging between 60-degrees and 65-degrees Fahrenheit. A room that is too warm may result in leggy plants that topple easily.
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- Ryan gently pushes each bulb down into the gravel, so it is well-anchored. There was enough room to place 23 in each vessel. The daffodil or narcissus is native to the Mediterranean area, central Asia and China. The most common narcissus species growing in North America were brought from Europe by the early colonists.
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- They all fit perfectly. These bulbs will hold one another upright and provide maximum bloom. Any bulbs used for forcing should be dense and heavy and free from mold, mildew, discoloration, or a peeling outer shell.
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- Ryan weighs down the bulbs with another layer of pebbles or stones, leaving the tips and necks of the bulbs exposed.
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- The necks of the bulbs should level with the rim of the container.
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- These bulbs are now ready for watering. Add enough water to just reach the bottom of the bulbs themselves – don’t let them sit deep in water or they will rot.
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- These look lovely in the servery window of my Winter House, where they will get lots of sunlight.
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- We had enough bulbs to also fill this large faux bois planter box. If using soil, be sure the container has at least three to five inches of soil and proper drainage holes in the bottom.
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- The potting soil should be well-draining with a pH of 6 to 7. We’re using medium weight, general purpose growing mix with a combination of sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, and processed southern pine bark.
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- Paperwhite narcissus produces clusters of flowers on 12- to 18-inch-tall stems. These will look so pretty grown in this box.
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- When potted, the tips of the bulbs should stick above the potting soil.
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- As the plants continue to grow, look out for any that get floppy – they may need some staking to keep them upright.
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- And water the potting soil thoroughly – it should be moist throughout the forcing period.
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- Ryan was able to fit about 80 bulbs in this planter box.
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- Ryan places a layer of gravel around the bulbs to anchor them.
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- These bulbs will join a second container box also planted with paperwhites in a dimly lit part of my greenhouse until they begin to grow. Then they’ll be moved to a sunnier location until they begin to open. Once the flowers form, these will be moved out of direct sunlight to prevent the flowers from fading too quickly.
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- Forcing paperwhites is an uplifting project during an otherwise cold and dark season. I’ll be sure to share photos once these gorgeous flowers are in bloom.
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