Plant These Paperwhite Bulb Varieties For The Biggest Blooms

Winter blues got you down? There's nothing better than an indoor blooming plant to make even the coldest of days feel like spring. That's why the paperwhite flower (Narcissus papyraceus) is a go-to for those looking to bring a bit of cheer to their homes in the depths of winter. The bulbous plant produces tall green stalks, at the tops of which sprout crisp white flowers that will fill your home with fragrance. It's like the elegant, more refined cousin of the daffodil —and it smells absolutely delightful. 

If you want the most bang (and scent) for your buck in terms of paperwhite flowers, the trick is to look for big bulbs. Popular larger varieties to look for include 16- to 17-centimeter 'Wintersun' bulbs, which produce stalks as tall as 24 inches, the 17-centimeter 'Nir' variety, or 'Ariel' bulbs that produce 14 to 18 flowers per stem. Of course, exact flower count per stem will vary by bulb and by grower, but in general, the bigger the bulb, the more blooms you'll get, and the bigger those blooms will be.

Ideally, you'll want to start looking for paperwhite bulbs in late summer and early fall before they sell out — September is the sweet spot. If you're shopping in person, examine and measure the bulbs before you buy. They should have a circumference of at least 16 centimeters in order to produce the most abundant and largest blooms. Feel them to make sure they're firm; squishiness and discoloration could indicate rot. Store your bulbs in a dark, cool room until you're ready to plant them. Growing paperwhites indoors is called "forcing," or growing flowers from a dormant bulb.

Most varieties take four to eight weeks to bloom indoors. When the time comes to plant your paperwhites, you can opt to either plant them in soil or in water. Some varieties thrive in soil, while others prefer to grow in water alone or are more flexible. Read the instructions on the bulbs you purchase for the best conditions in which to grow your paperwhites. Whatever medium you choose, make sure to give the bulbs at least a couple of inches on all sides in which to grow their roots. 

After planting your paperwhite bulbs, the roots and stems should begin to develop rapidly. If you're growing them in water, you won't have to worry about watering, but in soil, water only when the soil is dry to the touch. The most common issue with paperwhites is that the weight of the blooms can quickly become too much for the delicate stems, especially if you've grown as many large flowers as you were hoping. A simple solution is to tie a string or ribbon around the group of stems to keep them upright.

Alternatively, alcohol can stunt the growth of paperwhite stems, reducing the potential for toppling over without affecting the size of the blooms. To try this method, known as "pickling," plant your paperwhites in water, and when there's about 2 inches of green growth, replace the water with a solution that is 5% alcohol, 95% water. This can be achieved by combining 7 parts of water with 1 part of any hard liquor with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 40%. Looking for more advice? Here are some must-know tips to prevent root rot in paperwhites.