Imagine having fragrant and lovely paperwhite narcissus blooming in your home in the depth of winter during the months of January and February? You can have them if you plan a few weeks ahead of time. You can purchase the bulbs already pre-packaged in a starter kit. Paperwhites can be forced into bloom without a cold treatment.
You’ll have to place the bulbs, pointed side up in a shallow pot or bowl filled with two thirds full of gravel, sand, marbles or polished stones. A greater show will result if several bulbs are put in each container close together but not touching. Fill in around the bulbs so they are covered to one-half their height, and water enough to keep stones or other media moist. Put the dish in a cool (about 50 to 55F), dark room for about a week to encourage roots to develop. When green shoots appear, move the bulbs into a filtered sunlight location. Keep the temperatures cool (about 60F) during forcing. In about three more weeks, fragrant clusters of white, cream, or yellow flowers will appear.
These bulbs are easy to force to bloom indoors, and the fragrance is a luxurious treat in the middle of winter. Just be sure to plant a few extras as gifts for friends or to take to the office!
I love paper whites. But they always make the room smell like old paste. Is there any way to avoid that?
Suzanne Lieurance
The Working Writer’s Coach
http://www.workingwriterscoach.com