How to Grow and Care for Paperwhite Flower

Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) are flowering bulbs known for their fragrant clusters of tiny white, yellow, or orange flowers. The narcissus genus also includes daffodils and jonquils. You can force paperwhites to bloom indoors in the winter anywhere, or plant bulbs outdoors in fall to grow as a spring perennial in certain regions. Forced bulbs planted in pots or in water-filled vases are a traditional holiday gift plant. Here's how to grow paperwhite flowers in your home or garden.

Paperwhite Flower Care

• Give paperwhites direct light before they bloom, then move them to a spot with indirect light.
• Plant paperwhite bulbs in a well-drained potting mix or grow them in water using pebbles or gravel.
• Water potted paperwhites when the top inch of soil has dried out.
• Skip fertilizing if forcing paperwhite bulbs indoors.

Light

For forced paperwhites in winter, start with bulbs in a place with bright, direct sunlight, such as a south-facing window. When plants begin to bloom, move them to a cool place with indirect light. This will help extend the bloom period. Paperwhite bulbs planted outdoors in warm regions can grow well in full sun or part shade.

Soil

You can force paperwhite bulbs by planting them in a typical plant pot with drainage holes using a standard houseplant potting mix. Leave the top of the bulbs above the soil line. You can also force bulbs by placing them in a glass vase or dish filled with one to two inches of clean pebbles or gravel. Place bulbs on top of the stones, then add more stones over and around the bulbs to hold them in place with the tops still visible. Add water just to the base of the bulbs so the roots are submerged.

Water

Water potted indoor paperwhites when the top inch or so of soil has dried out. If forcing paperwhite flowers in water, add water as needed to maintain the water level at the base of the bulbs.

Temperature and Humidity

Once paperwhites flower, cooler temperatures will help preserve blooms. Move plants to the coolest place in your home with indirect light after flowers appear. Paperwhite bulbs don't require a chilling period the way some other bulbs do. However, these Mediterranean native plants require hot, dry summers to bloom repeatedly as outdoor perennials. Gardeners in states like California, New Mexico, and Texas tend to have the most success with planting paperwhite bulbs outdoors for this reason.

Fertilizer

There's no need to fertilize forced paperwhite bulbs, since this growing process is designed to be used for only one bloom period. For bulbs planted outdoors in appropriate regions, while it is possible to plant forced paperwhite bulbs outdoors after they flower, it may take plants a few years to replenish their energy stores enough to flower again.

Types of Paperwhites

• 'Ziva': This popular variety is valued for its prolific, pure-white flowers and musky aroma.
• 'Ariel': A more compact paperwhite, 'Ariel' is known for its early blooms.
• 'Chinese Sacred Lily': This cultivar native to China has flowers with buttery-yellow cups against white petals and a citrusy scent.
• 'Grand Soleil d'Or': Though you'll wait longer for blooms, this fragrant variety pops with cheery yellow petals centered around orange cups.
• 'Nir': An early-blooming, all-white cultivar with even more flowers per stem than 'Ziva'.

Propagating Paperwhites

Paperwhite bulbs are typically purchased new each year for indoor forcing, though they may be able to grow as outdoor perennials in certain warm regions. While it's possible to collect paperwhite seeds after the plants flower, plants germinated from seed can take anywhere from three to five years to mature.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases 

Paperwhites aren't known for having pest or disease issues, aside from basal rot, which is caused by a fungus found in soil. Outdoor plants are resistant to deer and rabbits.

How to Get Paperwhites to Bloom

Paperwhites will bloom more quickly the longer they're stored. Unlike hyacinths, paperwhites don't require a chilling period to bloom, so there's no need to refrigerate the bulbs before planting. Expect to wait several weeks longer for blooms if you plant bulbs in November than if you plant them in January. Bulbs require a growing medium, such as a potting mix or small stones, bright light, and water to germinate. Brightly lit conditions will support faster blooming.

Bloom Months

Paperwhites bloom in winter and spring, depending on when they are planted. Bulbs are often planted in November for December blooms. Depending on the variety, the time of year, and growing conditions, paperwhites can bloom in around four to six weeks, though some varieties take longer.

How Long Do Paperwhite Flowers Bloom?

Once blooms appear, you can expect them to remain for two to three weeks. Move flowers to the coolest part of your house out of direct sunlight to extend bloom time. Warm temperatures and too much sun can cause healthy flowers to deteriorate more quickly.

What Do Paperwhite Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Paperwhite flowers resemble small daffodils that grow in clusters of anywhere from a few to as many as 20 blooms per stem, with two to three stems per bulb. Flowers may be pure white, white with yellow cups, all yellow, or yellow with orange cups. All paperwhites are prized for their pleasant scent, but yellow-flowered varieties have a reputation for stronger fragrance.

Deadheading Paperwhite Flowers

There's no need to deadhead forced paperwhites, but if the flowers on some stalks begin to fade before others, you can cut them back at the base of the plant to keep it looking tidy. Spent flowers on outdoor paperwhites can be removed for the same reason.

Common Problems With Paperwhite

Plants Falling Over

Certain growing conditions can cause paperwhites to grow so tall that they flop over. Too much warmth or too little light is typically the reason. Another way to prevent this is by pickling your paperwhites to stunt their growth by replacing four to six percent of the water you give them with hard alcohol like vodka or gin. Plants will grow shorter, but their flowers will be unaffected.

Flowers Not Blooming in Second Year

Forced paperwhite bulbs are typically discarded after they bloom, since paperwhites can only grow as perennials in limited regions of the United States, and indoor conditions don't typically allow plants to store up enough energy to rebloom anyway. You can try planting forced paperwhite bulbs outdoors after the flowers are spent and see if they'll establish in the ground after a few years, but don't count on second-year blooms in regions outside of the American Southwest.

Abnormal Flowers

Basal rot, a disease that affects the roots before spreading to the rest of the plant, can stunt paperwhite growth and cause flowers to grow abnormally. To prevent this, inspect paperwhite bulbs before planting. Only plant firm, healthy-looking bulbs to help prevent basal rot.