Paper Whites

About three or four years ago, I acquired some paper white bulbs blooming in a pot. I dried the bulbs and re-potted them successfully the second year and have done the same procedure since, but now I only get leaves, no flowers. I remember reading that they don't winter over well outdoors in Michigan, so I've grown them on an enclosed back porch. Their "perfume" is too strong for the house. Can anyone advise me what to do with them before I throw them out?

Rosemallow

Just guessing but it could be they need dividing. Overcrowding can cause ceratin bulbs to stop flowering (dafs, tulips, etc)

Hmm, I did divide them, I think the second year. I'll try it again. Thanks for the suggestion.
Rosemallow

Like I said I am only guessing......good luck :-)

Do you ever feed them? A good dressing of bone meal may not help you this year, but it should do some good for next year's growth.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2004 1:30 AM

Bone meal it is! I will try that, too. There are now several bulbs, enough for three pots, maybe. I'll transplant them in new soil and use the bone meal. They are quite pretty and fun to watch in the cold winter months as they are usually the first things to bloom, although their scent is not pleasant at all! They should have been called, "stink plants." Thanks for the suggestions.

Maybe you should try the Yellow Paperwhites.....they have maybe 10% of the fragrance of the white ones. Another one is Nony, much less fragrance.

I wouldn't go out to buy them on purpose! I just acquired these and since I don't have the heart to let anything die, I'm stuck with them. It's a "sickness" with me. Even those poinsettia plants I get at Christmas live til Easter and end up outside among my lillies. Then the lilly plants go out next. My poinsettias (two this year) died when I put them in the ground and I thought, "Oh, good, two less things to worry about bringing in." And what do you know? I see all this new growth coming up. Drats!

Does anyone know the botanical name for paper whites?

Just found the answer, they are (Narcissus tazetta), among the most popular forcing flowers, since they don't require a period of chilling.