Forcing Paperwhites Indoors

I forced some paperwhites last year around Christmas, and I have them growing again (they haven't been outside at all) but they haven't bloomed yet. Do they bloom every other time they grow or do I have to do something to the bulbs to get them to bloom again? Or do I just have to be patient :P I think they have been growing for a month and a half now.

I don't know the answer to your question but have another one about the paperwhites. I read where they were "fragrant" that doesn't mean they smell good though. UGH! Mine are all outside now, can I plant them, somewhere 'away' from the house for next year?

Most bulbs being forced for early, or specific blooming period will use up all the reserved engergy for the blooming period. Unless we plant those bulbs back into the ground and give them adequate fertilizer and growing condition that mimics their native habitat, they are NOT likely to give us a repeat performance the following year. Most of my Paperwhites that I forced the preceding year, I had promptly planted them in my garden after the flowers faded. In my zone Paperwhite thrives, they begun to bloom again for me last month, and are persisting at present. Note I'm in zone 7b. I don't know how it would do in your zone.

Davis, I agreed totally. The fragrant may or may not agree with everyone's unique olfactory system. I think they smell sweet. My sister thinks they stink. lol.
Kim

I enjoy their smell...except when my house has been closed up for a few days (it is quite warm inside ALL the time). Perhaps I will try sticking them in the ground in the spring. Perhaps they will do something for me again :)

I'll be planting mine outside tomorrow, hopefully they'll rebloom next year. I have a brug blooming now & it too was a little smelly (not good). I guess it's your own perception of what smells good as well as other conditions. I thought they'd all smell wonderful. I have a fragrant narcissus in bud now, keeping my fingers crossed on that one! Who knew? LOL

This is the 2nd repeat performance on these Paperwhites. They were forced in 2006, bloomed last year, then I transplanted into a different spot in the garden last year, and here they bloomed again for me. :-)

wow kim, what a beautiful bloom! Mine aren't pure whites, more of a yellow cup. Zivias I think. I also got a few of the inball paperwhites, but they haven't bloomed yet. When did you take the picture?

Very pretty :) I hope mine will bloom again when I plant them elsewhere.

Davis, the pix is current. ^_^ these type of bulbs begun to bloom in my garden begining November and persists for weeks. You can see in my pix the other leafy green is being frost bitten.
RHWD according to pf, this type of bulbs is listed hardy only zone 8+, what I would do if I were you. I would treat them as "tropical" in which I give them a deep pot culture, move them into the garage or shed when temp. is below 20 degrees F.
Where I live, the ground doesn't get frozen in winter.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62400/

"below 20 degrees F"???????????

Hmm... I happen to have some pots that aren't doing much in the shed right now. Perhaps I will get the urge to do some planting soon :)

Hi Redhead, so yours never did anything this year? Are the bulbs still firm? I would go ahead & pot them up if you haven't. Whats your weather like now?

Bleek, the reason I estimate the 20's is that it's the minimum low temp. in our climate. :-) Even with that the garden soil rarely freeze over, unless they're on small pots sitting outside unprotected.

I have them in the same pot they were in last year (I haven't taken them out, but the bulbs still felt firm when I started watering again) and they are green, but no flowers.

The weather is freezing and snowy right now. We have had at least a foot and a half of snow and the temperature has been running at about -30C (-22F) with wind chill making it more like -45C (-49F). Good thing I have been baking and the house is warm :)

How tall are the sprouts? If they are about 6" tall and you divide the leaves, an even number on each side then you should see the start of a sprout??

I think they are about a foot and a half tall. They have been growing for at least a month and a half now.

They should have flowered by now or at least show the bud. If you have more then 1 pot, I would take 1 bulb out and cut it vertically and see if you see the sprout, but I doubt there is one.

I've never seen anyone successfully get rebloom on potted paperwhites. They don't survive winters in my zone, so no way they will that far north. I think there are 2 issues that are tough in getting them to bloom again. Although they're tender, I think they still some cooling period to bloom. Perhaps a fridg would work. Then there is also the issue of the leaves getting enough sun to regenerate the bulbs for next years blooms. I don't have any place in the house that would get enough light, but a greenhouse or sun room may do the trick. The bulbs would also need to be fertilized every year too.

G.S. great points! For those that are North of where I'm. Paperwhites I can see how they can be real challenges! I've success with them here, and I'm grateful of that. Yes, they need to be grown year round (provided that they can withstand the hot/cold) in the garden in order to rebloom next year. Also the critical "chilling period" like certain citrous fruit crops that require these chilling factors -- cold enough to chill, but not too cold where they will freeze.

I bought some yesterday at Lowes for 50 cents for 6 bulbs. Decided to try indoor forcing. All literature said to pitch after the show. Lilylove I think I will transplant inground hoping for future shows. Nothing to lose, and compost material to gain, at the very least.

My lowe's also had Thalia daff for sale for 6/$1. I am tempted to get them but haven't decided yet.

For a small amount of bulbs, using them as annual is worthwhile I agree. I plant several hundred of springbulbs as annual yearly and love the reward of them.

? you mean they don't naturalize?

I meant other than Paperwhites, daffs, hycinches ect. Here is a thread on those that I treat as annuals, particularly Tulips. I love tulips and they're a MUST in the garden every year. Only our summer is too hot for them, most of the tulips will perish, those bulblets may survive but won't rebloom for several years of growth. Instead, I replant the bed every single year.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/901764/

p.s. I just wanted to make it clear, Paperwhites, daffodyls hyacinches, alliums and many other hardy bulbs can be naturalized here in my zone, but Tulips, anomeneas will NOT here.

OK, I'm with you. I will press on planting zivas inground for naturalizing.

Don't try saving paperwhite bulbs after forcing them. (if you live in the north and have freezing winters)
just toss them and buy new ones next year.
give them as much sun as possible. if they get too tall and floppy, they do well as cut flowers

Vossner - we are in the same planting zone. I purchased some paperwhites a few years ago, and then put them in the ground after forcing indoors. They have multiplied and bloomed every year since. Here is a photo from a few weeks ago - there are blooms still out in the yard now. I planted some Thalias also a few years ago - they multiply and come back and bloom every year. I don't care for the fragrance of either the zivas and the thalias, but outdoors, they are fine. I do use them as cut flowers, but only in open areas.

What great information :) I think I will try sticking them in the fridge and fertilizing and see what happens. I guess I could stick them outside in the spring and see what happens too :)

phoooey, I went to Lowe's today determined to get all their 50 cent paperwhites but somebody beat me to it. I did get all the Yellow Early cheer and their Geranium daffs, approx 100 ea, for an average 10 cent a bulb. Also got 2 5 gal camellia japonics for $10 ea. woohoo