paperwhites

I had gotten some paperwhites that I forced this winter. The box said they could be planted outside....other things I've read said they're pretty much done after they bloom. Anyone in my area 5b have paperwhites outside or know if they will survive? I've already planted them in my garden....

Kristie

They are put in the ground here in zone 9, but they are not hardy.....hate to give you the sad news....

*sigh*...thanks for telling me though....the box lied! They're my daughter's birth flower, I was hoping to keep them around....Oh well.

Thanks

Kristie

what we often do is wait until your last frost is over and plant the bulbs in the ground (new bulbs that is)....you can save them in the refrigerator...that is what i do....as I have to buy them when they become available.....at the end of the summer after the foliage has died, you can dig them up and save them again.....

So, I should have kept the bulbs and refrigerated them instead of planting them? Dang it.

Kristie

If they are true paperwhites than they will not survive in our zone, they are supposed to be zone 8-10. However, there are many narcissus that ARE hardy in our zone - paperwhite narcissus are in the daffodil family. I have some that my grandmother called paperwhites that come back fine each year - along with several other narcissus varieties.

You are probably fine having planted them out for our summer - but you may want to keep track of where and dig them up again in the fall as gessiegail suggested just in case. Or you could dig most of them up and leave one or two in as an experiment to see if they are hardy in our zone.

In our zone bulbs such as tulips and daffodil are planted in the fall - mid-late Oct usually.

Thanks, I think I'll do that wildgardengirl. Maybe they are hardy in our zone...the box said I could put them outside...lol.

Anyway, anyone know anything about coleus? I posted a question on another forum, but haven't gotten an answer to it. I just bought some, and want to plant it, but don't know what's best for it. Do they need bigger containers to grow, or do they like to be root bound. Also, the only soil I have left is African Violet soil....would that be bad to use? And, any creative container ideas would be cool...I'd like to make something visually striking....

Kristie

Go to container gardening.....some awesome pics on there using coleus....I wouldn't waste African Violet soil.....when I put plants on hold before going into the ground or pots, I use 1/2 miracle grow soil and 1/2 perlite......they probably need to have their soil changed anyway....growers soil is not good for holding over....

Thanks for the info....I'd just decided I'd hold off on planting them til I get a new bag of soil....this may sound stupid, but is perlite the little white ball things? If so, doesn't most potting soil come with it already in it?

Kristie

kls_01
potting soil is ok...I just like to keep it very light so I add perlite (the little white ball things)......you have to water more often when you add perlite to a potting mix...and you have to faithfully fertilize, but the roots get more air....it is a personal preference...

Gotcha....I'm starting to catch on :) thanks.

Kristie