Paperwhites, botanically known as Narcissus papyraceus, are fragrant, popular bulbs frequently forced indoors to provide winter blooms and are often associated with the holiday season. The process of forcing these Mediterranean-native bulbs encourages them to flower outside of their natural spring schedule. Once the flowers have faded, this guide focuses on the specific steps you can take to manage your Paperwhites after the flowering period has ended, whether you choose to discard them or attempt to save them for future growth.
Immediate Care for Spent Blooms and Foliage
The first step after the blooms have completely faded is to remove the spent flower stalks. Locate the main stem, or peduncle, that supported the flower cluster and snip it off near the base of the plant. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the green leaves that remain, as they are crucial for the bulb’s recovery.
The green foliage acts as a solar panel for the bulb, performing photosynthesis to create and store energy reserves for the next growth cycle. For this reason, the leaves must be left entirely intact until they naturally yellow and wither away. Cutting the green foliage prematurely starves the bulb and significantly reduces the chance of any future re-bloom.
While the leaves are still green, continue to water the plant, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. If the Paperwhites were grown in soil, this is the time to begin a light fertilization routine. Applying a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer every two to four weeks will help the leaves maximize the energy they are storing back into the bulb.
Determining Viability: Saving Paperwhites for Future Blooms
Forced Paperwhites are often treated as annuals after blooming because the forcing process severely depletes the bulb’s stored energy. Unlike other Narcissus relatives like daffodils, Paperwhites do not require a chilling period to initiate blooming, which makes them easy to force indoors. However, this ease comes at the cost of a full recharge cycle.
The intense energy expenditure required to produce flowers indoors often leaves the bulb too exhausted to bloom again the following season, especially when grown without soil nutrients. Getting a forced bulb to re-bloom indoors is difficult because the plant needs a prolonged period of robust growth and natural dormancy. The conditions required to fully restore the bulb’s massive energy deficit are challenging to replicate within a typical home environment.
Paperwhites thrive best as perennials in mild, warm areas. They are reliably perennial only in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11. Gardeners living outside of these zones may find that the effort required to save the bulbs is not rewarded with another bloom, and composting them is a practical choice.
Preparing and Planting Saved Bulbs Outdoors
If you reside in a suitable mild climate and wish to attempt re-blooming, continue caring for the plant until the foliage completely dies back. Once the leaves turn yellow and brown, indicating that all usable energy has been transferred to the bulb, stop watering entirely to trigger the bulb’s natural dormancy period. After the foliage is completely dry (which can take several weeks), trim the withered leaves off at the soil line and carefully remove the bulbs from their container. If the bulbs were grown in water and pebbles, rinse them gently.
Next, the bulbs need to be cured, which involves storing them in a cool, dry, and dark location until the optimal outdoor planting time in the fall. A temperature range between 38 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit is appropriate for storage. In the autumn, plant the cured bulbs outdoors in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, approximately 3 to 4 inches deep, with the pointed end facing upward. Space the bulbs a few inches apart to allow for future multiplication. This process allows the bulbs to undergo a full summer rest and a natural winter cycle, which is necessary for them to potentially re-bloom the following spring.