How To Grow Paperwhite Bulbs So You Don't Have To Worry About Watering

Want to give your interior decorating a major lift with masses of snowy white blooms that will fill your home with a gorgeous heady fragrance? If you love paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) in the garden, these can also liven up your house and or adorn a festive table with their showy flowers. Plus, they're surprisingly easy to grow from bulbs without too much fuss. You may already know how to grow paperwhites indoors for beautiful winter blooms, but if you don't want to stress about constantly keeping them watered, there's an easy solution which will also cause your bulbs to bloom early. Try growing them in water instead of soil.

Unlike other common bulbs you might enjoy growing such as daffodils and tulips, paperwhites don't need any cold treatment before planting. This means you can buy your bulbs and use a very simple method to initiate growth and gorgeous flowers just in time for the holiday season. All you will need is a bowl or vase, some stones or gravel, and your paperwhite bulbs. A tall glass vase may be ideal to help support those lanky flower stems, but if you insist on growing them in your favorite shallow bowl, you can say goodbye to floppy paperwhites with the help of a boozy beverage.

The first thing you want to do is put a layer of stones, marbles, or gravel in the base of your container and place the bulbs on top of these, making sure they're pointy side up. You'll get a much better display if you can fit at least five to seven bulbs in each receptacle. Add more gravel to hold the bulbs in place, making sure just the tips are exposed. Finally, add water into the bowl or vase until it's almost touching the very base of the bulbs. As the roots emerge, they'll reach downward into the water. Too high a water level might cause the bulbs to rot.

Put the container in a cool, dark spot for two to three weeks, ideally around 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep an eye on the water level so it doesn't drop too low. When you notice root growth and the shoots have grown to a height of about three inches, move your plants to a warmer room and place them on a sunny windowsill. Ideally, the room temperature should be around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to initiate blooming. If you find this is going to be difficult, you might want to invest in a grow light to encourage your bulbs to bloom. As soon as flowering begins, move your plants away from direct sunlight exposure as this will help to prolong blooming. Now that you know how easy it is to grow paperwhites in water, you might also be interested in other indoor plants that can grow in water indefinitely.