A nice little project for the days and weeks after the holidays is planting paperwhite bulbs. Planting these lovely flowers is good for those quiet days as you get ready for the new year.
Paperwhites are members of the Narcissus or Daffodil family and are easy to force into bloom indoors. The dainty white little daffodil-like flowers with a slight fragrance give us an early touch of springtime. The blooms will appear about 4 to 6 weeks after planting.
In six weeks, we should be about halfway through winter, and we will be looking for the groundhog. Your little paper whites will give you a touch of spring.
The easiest way to plant paperwhites is to select a tall, glass vase. The paperwhites tend to get top heavy as they bloom, and the height of the vase will give them the support they need. Place a layer of stones in the bottom of the container. Fill the vase with water to just below the top layer of stones.
Put the bulbs, pointy side up and root side down, on the top of stones. Put in as many bulbs as you can; they should touch each other. Do not let the bottom of the bulbs touch the water. The roots of the bulb will find their way to the water. Check the water in your container. Our dry houses will evaporate the water, and the roots of the bulbs must be able to stay in the water. Do not let the water touch the bottom of the bulbs.
Another way to force paperwhites is to fill a well-drained container with potting soil. Place the bulbs just under the surface of the soil. The pointed tops of the bulb should just peek through the top of the soil. Watch the containers and do not let the plant dry out.
After the flowers have bloomed completely, remove bulbs from the containers and allow the bulbs to dry for about 1 to 2 weeks to dry properly. Bulbs grown in soil may be planted again, bulbs grown in water may not bloom again.
Paperwhite bulbs, available at most garden centers, are very easy to force into bloom. The little white flowers and the lovely fragrance give all of us a little touch of spring in the heart of winter.
(Rebecca Ryan is a lifelong resident of and gardener in the Bradford area. She retired from teaching at Bradford Area School District.)
