Had enough of the cold gray winter? Why not grow paperwhite narcissus and add a ray of sunshine and fragrance to your home? 
Narcissus papyraceus, a cultivar of Narcissus tazetta, is available during the holiday season and sold as bulb kits or as single bulbs in garden centers. These easy to force bulbs produce clusters of white fragrant flowers can brighten any home in the dead of winter.
Paperwhite narcissus can be easily forced to bloom anytime in winter thru spring because unlike tulips, hyacinths or daffodils, they do not require a cooling period (vernalization)
How to start
Plant the bulbs in groups of 3, 5 or 7 in well-drained soil mix with the top half above the soil line. Water the soil thoroughly and place in a warm location. When the leaves begin to emerge, move the container to a sunny area.
Another popular way to start paperwhites is without a soil medium. Simply place the bulbs close together, flat end(tips up) into a container that has a layer of rocks, marble or gravel in the bottom. Add just enough water to keep the bottom of the bulbs moist but not wet. They should not sit in water or they will rot. It will take about a week for the roots to grow into the water soaked gravel.
No fertilizer is required.
When bulbs are planted in the fall (Thanksgiving) blooming will occur in 4-6 weeks, but if planted later in the season they should bloom within 2-3 weeks.
The flowers should last from 1 – 2 weeks, but for optimal longer lasting blooms, move the container to a cool, bright spot out of direct sunlight when the flowers first appear. If grown in too warm temperatures or not enough light, the plant may get tall and top heavy and require some kind of support to keep it from flopping over.
Floppy stems
New research by Dr. William B. Miller at Cornell U. has shown that the use of alcohol can shorten the stem length of paperwhite narcissus thus reducing the too tall, flop over problem. Replacing the existing water with a 5% solution (1 part isopropyl alcohol to 10 parts of water) when the shoots are 2 inches tall will keep the foliage and stems at 1/3 to 1/2 shorter than their normal height with no affect on the flowers. Don”t use beer or wine and an alcohol solution no higher than 10%. The reduced growth is believed to be caused by the alcohol making water absorption difficult for the bulb resulting in “water stress”.
Plant Tip
Forced paperwhites will not re-bloom; the bulb depletes all its energy in flower production. In Northern climates, they should be enjoyed and then discarded. However, in warmer climates, zone 8-11, Paperwhites can be planted outdoors and may rebloom after a few years of rebuilding the bulb.
source:www.hort.cornell.edu/
From the reader archive
Useful reader questions
I bought paperwhite bulbs for the first time, planted them in several different containers, and enjoyed watching their fast growth and pretty flowers. I am now wondering what to do with them. I live in Zone 7, on a mountaintop in N.C.…
Read Donna Hughes discussionAfter the paperwhite blooms and the flower dies there are little green like seeds left where the flower blossems were. Can these be planted? According to an Ill. Extension advisor, the seed pods (once they are ripe) can be planted to produce…
Read elb wise discussionI started some paperwhites in rock and water and now see that several have a hairy white mold, despite not having the water higher than just above base. I read that having the base in water was ok, but not up to…
Read Susan discussioni just purchased 2 paperwhite bulbs yesterday for the first time, and it looks like they have bugs, is this normal for them and what can i do about the bugs Where are the bugs in the bulbs or on the leaves?…
Read cassandra stepp discussion
i just purchased 2 paperwhite bulbs yesterday for the first time, and it looks like they have bugs, is this normal for them and what can i do about the bugs
Where are the bugs in the bulbs or on the leaves? If in the bulb, it’s possible that they may be thrips-tiny cream colored worms.
After the paperwhite blooms and the flower dies there are little green like seeds left where the flower blossems were. Can these be planted?
I bought paperwhite bulbs for the first time, planted them in several different containers, and enjoyed watching their fast growth and pretty flowers. I am now wondering what to do with them. I live in Zone 7, on a mountaintop in N.C. (3,000 feet elevation). I would like to plant them outside, but it may be too cold. If so, what do I do with them if I keep them indoors? I read that I’m supposed to leave the leaves alone until they turn yellow and wilt–then I guess I cut them off. What next?? Thanks for your help.
I live in zone 5 and we plant paperwhites here in the fall. They love to naturalize and I have many of them over the years and very long lived.
I also have planted in the ground paperwhites that have been forced to have them return year after year.
I started some paperwhites in rock and water and now see that several have a hairy white mold, despite not having the water higher than just above base. I read that having the base in water was ok, but not up to the neck of the bulb otherwise they could rot. Do I need to pull out the moldy bulbs or is there some hope they will still bloom? Thanks!
I have a paperwhite from the holidays that started in shallow soil and is now in glass vase with glass pebbles. The leaves are long, curly, floppy and yellowing at the ends. The bulb has split into two with two main stalks or leaf growths and has never bloomed. 🙁 I have no idea how to help it.
I bough 2 paper white in small vases. I read where you put alcohol in water to keep them smaller. I did this after they flopped over one die, but the next morning the roots turned brown and a few leaves yellowed. Will they still bloom?
I purchased 2 paper whites in paper white vases that flopped over so I put a water solution with alcohol. Afterwards the roots turned brown and a few leaves yellowed. Will they still bloom. I was forcing them for christmas, 2017.