When the garden goes quiet for winter, a pot of paperwhites on the windowsill feels like a small miracle. These fragrant narcissus are the easiest bulbs to coax into bloom indoors because, unlike tulips or hyacinths, they do not need a long cold spell first. Plant them, give them light and water, and in roughly five to six weeks you will have clusters of starry white flowers just in time for the holidays.
Start with good bulbs. Choose ones that feel firm and heavy for their size, with no mold, soft patches, discoloration or peeling skins. You can grow them in gravel and water or in ordinary potting soil. For the gravel method, pick any watertight container with at least four inches of room beneath the bulbs for roots, and wash the pebbles or pea stone before you begin.
Planting Step by Step
Fill the container with pebbles to about an inch below the rim, then nestle the bulbs in pointed end up, packed close together. Add another layer of stones around them to hold them steady, leaving the necks and tips exposed. Pour in water only until it touches the base of the bulbs, since sitting submerged invites rot. If you prefer soil, use a well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes and keep it evenly moist.
Temperature matters more than you might think. Paperwhites prefer a cool room, around 60 to 65 degrees, with good daylight; too much warmth produces tall, floppy stems that tip over. Start the pots somewhere dim, move them to a sunny spot once growth takes off, then shift them out of direct sun when the flowers open so they last longer. A slim stake or a ribbon tied around the stems keeps everything upright.
Source: The Martha Blog (Martha Stewart)
