Can you plant paperwhites outdoors

Bloom time is determined by planting time, so if you plant a few bulbs each month, you'll be able to have paperwhites in bloom all winter long. A ventilated plastic bag will help to keep the bulbs from drying out. Paperwhites are sensitive to cold temperatures, so don't let the bulbs freeze. Paperwhites are usually grown without soil. Choose a shallow, watertight container and fill the bottom with two or three inches of small stones.

Marble chips, polished stones, glass beads or washed gravel all work fine. Planting in groups of five or more bulbs will give you the best show. Place the bulbs closely together touching each other is fine with their pointed ends up. The tops of the bulbs should be even with or slightly above the rim of the pot.

Add more stones to hold the bulbs in place. After planting, add water to the container until it barely touches the base of the bulbs. Put the pot in a cool, bright location. Extend the show by planting several batches of bulbs. You can do all the planting in one day and then store the pre-planted pots in a cool, dark place.

When you are ready to start a new batch of bulbs, just bring out one of the pots and add water. Grow paperwhites in water rather than soil. It works just as well, and weighing the bulbs down with stones helps keep the flowers from tipping over. Washed gravel works fine, as do marble chips, polished river stones, tumbled glass or even marbles. Only the bottom half of the bulb needs to be covered. The roots will anchor themselves by growing around and under the stones.

Paperwhite bulbs can sense the presence of water. After planting, add water to the container until it almost, but not quite touches the bottoms of the bulbs. Cheat Sheet Paperwhites grown indoors tend to produce large flowers that are too heavy for the stems.

For support, loosely tie the paperwhite stems together with some natural-looking twine, or invest in some metal or bamboo stakes.

Fragrant; easily forced to grow indoors. Winter hardy outdoors, as well. Keep It Alive Partial or filtered sun. Water thoroughly during growth periods. If planting outdoors in autumn, place bulbs a few inches apart; if forcing bulbs indoors, try a five-inch pot.

Are you trying forcing paperwhite bulbs indoors? For images that inspire, see Hardscape design guides. They will help bring your dreams to fruition. Join the conversation. Related Stories. Gardening Persimmon Trees by Kendra Wilson. Gardening Aster by Kier Holmes.