There will never be blooms more synonymous with Christmas and the Holiday Season than paperwhites and Amaryllis’.  Both have been used in holiday decor for centuries, and the tradition continues to this day.

Paperwhites (also know by the Latin name Tazetta Narcissus) are a member of the daffodil family, which is evidenced in their graceful and slender shape.   Paperwhites produce small clusters of tiny flowers with a distinctive odor.  You can expect each “stalk” to reach 15″ in height and for the blooms to last between one and two weeks, depending upon growing conditions.

Paper whites are a very easy bloom to force in time for the holidays.  They do not require nearly as much care, attention, and special treatment as their Amaryllis counterparts.  Although the smell is not nearly as attractive as the bloom, the look that you get for the effort put into nurturing the plant is a great reward.

I would not recommend using the paper white as a table centerpiece on a table where holiday guests will be dining because of the sometimes repulsive smell that paper whites produce.

Steps To Preparing and Forcing Paper White Blooms:

Once planted, paperwhites will require 4-6 weeks to reach maturity and bloom.

Supplies:

1) A number of paperwhite bulbs.  I recommend using a minimum of five (5) bulbs per arrangement to achieve a good look.

2) A 4″-6″ deep water proof container large enough to place the number of bulbs you are forcing side by side without touching.  The container in which the bulbs are forced is the container in which the final product will be displayed.  Be sure to use a container that goes well with your holiday decor, or one that is small enough to place inside of an urn or basket.

3) Pebbles.  Enough to completely fill each container or dish that you will be using to force the paperwhites.

Directions:

1) Fill each container half way with pebbles.

2) Place the bulbs on top of the pebbles with the pointed side facing up, since that is where the bloom will emerge.

3) Make sure the bulbs are not touching, and fill the space between each bloom with pebbles to keep the bulbs from falling over or touching one another.  When finished, only the top one-half or one-third of the bulb should be exposed.

4) Fill the container half way with water, keeping the water from touching the bubs so the bulbs do not rot.  You can check the level of the water by inserting your finger into the pebbles.  The roots of the paper white will grow into the water.

How to Store and Care For Paperwhite Bulbs:

Once the paperwhite bulbs have been properly planted move them to a cool, dark place (about 45-55 degrees) until they sprout, which will take approximately 1-2 weeks.  Remember to periodically check the water level, and never allow it to dry.

Once the paperwhites have sprouted, move them to a cool but sunny location.  If the air is to warm the paperwhites will grow too tall and will not properly bloom.  Once you see that the paperwhites are growing toward the sunlight, be sure to turn the container on a daily basis so they do not grow sideways.

Some paperwhites will need assistance growing striaght, especially when they reach 10″ +.  To assist in growing simply devise a staking system with pieces of bamboo, small sticks, pencils, chop sticks, etc.  Simply surround the paperwhites with 3-4 solid stakes and wrap raffia, ribbon or twine all the way around the plant.  Many people like using the raffia and twine in their decor, especially is going for a “rustic Christmas” design.

To ensure your paperwhites bloom for a long as possible keep them in a moist and cool environment, away from direct sunlight and with moist soil.  Once the bulbs are finished blooming they will most likely not be able to bloom again due to the amount of stress brought on by forcing them to grow.  Simply discard the used bulbs and purchase new ones next year.

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