Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, It’s starting already—gardening withdrawals. Margaret of Washington, NJ, asked how to force Paperwhite bulbs, reminding me of a simple winter withdrawal remedy that makes an excellent pick-me-up. It’s as easy as putting the Narcissus papyraceus bulbs in water with gravel and adding a party of spirits. In a few weeks, you’ll have fragrant white flowers. Instant delight!
But not so fast; as I was researching the folklore behind Paperwhites, I came upon a story written by Vicki Johnson, a dear friend and columnist for the NJ Herald, titled Paperwhites can smell sweet – or Stink. I had no idea! But first, the folklore. I’m a sucker for good stories.
Ceasol, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Myth of Paperwhites Narcissus
The cliff-notes version of the Greek myth is about a handsome, vain young man named Narcissus who loved only himself, mistreating others, including Echo, who fell in love with him. But Narcissus only fell in love with his reflection and wasted away while viewing himself, dying at the water’s edge, and was replaced by the plant Narcissus in full bloom.
The moral of the story is to have humility rather than arrogance. The myth was portrayed in works of art and music in the 20th century, leading to the term Narcissistic Personality Disorder, a mental health condition of people with an inflated sense of self-importance and lack of compassion. Sounds like an ex-husband I once knew.
A happier connotation of Paperwhite is that, in floriography (the symbolism of flowers), receiving a Narcissus bouquet means you are the only one.
Why some Paperwhites are not as Fragrant
So, onto stinky versus sweet-smelling Paperwhites. Thanks to Vicki, I learned that heirloom varieties such as the Chinese Sacred Lily or the yellow-petaled Grand Soleil d’Or are among the fragrant ones we remember as kids. These lovelies must be grown in soil, not the nifty water method described below.
Paperwhite Flowers
Beezhive, CC BY-SA 3. via Wikimedia Commons
In the 1970s, hybrids cropped up in Israel, offering more floriferous multiple flowers per stem. And they have taken over the market. ‘Ziva’ is the most popular with a musky smell. But American Meadows, who sells ‘Ziva,’ describes them as sweet-smelling.
A reviewer wrote, “My only disappointment was that the wonderful paperwhite narcissus scent was very weak.” At least they didn’t smell like cat urine or dirty socks as others report. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, or, should I say, in the nose of the beholder – smile.
terren in Virginia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to grow Paperwhites in water
Choose a wide-mouthed container about 4 inches deep with no drainage holes to force Paperwhites in water. Spread an inch or two of marbles or stones. Position your Paperwhite bulbs side by side, pointy end up, on top of the stone layer. The tight fit will help keep them from toppling over, and a grouping is more appealing. Add another layer of stones to fill in gaps, covering the bulbs just above the widest part, keeping their pointy tips above the stones.
Add water up to the bottom of the bulbs as if they’re sitting on the water, and maintain that level throughout. Too much water will cause the bulbs to rot. They prefer to be cool, say 65 degrees, and don’t need sunlight until they develop roots. Once they do, move them to a sunny but cool window. Too much warmth will cause them to grow leggy and flop over. Once in flower, move them out of direct sunlight so the blooms will last longer.
Paperwhites like to party!
It turns out Paperwhites enjoy a cocktail party. No kidding! A continuous drink of alcohol keeps them from toppling over, which is the opposite effect it has on us. Once the green shoots grow about 2 inches, pour off the water and replace it with a solution of 4 to 6 percent alcohol mixed with water and use the same solution for watering. You can use any hard liquor (vodka, tequila, whiskey) or rubbing alcohol. Skip the wine or beer, though, as they’re too high in sugar. More is not merrier either, as too much alcohol will overdose the plant, causing severe problems. Plants and People, same-same.
You can start a new pot every couple of weeks for a continuous bloom to help you through the winter blues. Maybe it’s best to allow your Paperwhites to drink alone, though. People may begin to talk.
The Miracle of the Unseen
While marveling over the miracle of the seed going to bloom, think about what’s happening within the unseen. It’s a reminder of what’s happening inside of us that we can take for granted. It is truly a gift, these bodies we live in. May we always treat it with profound respect as we should all living things, including our plants and wildlife.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com (and your favorite Podcast App.)
There’s more to the story in the Garden Dilemmas Podcast (a soothing 10 minutes):
Amaryllis, grown in water, like to part,y too.
Amaryllis, grown in water, like to Party, too.
Layer 3 inches of stones, place the amaryllis bulb, then add stones to stabilize it. Maintain the water slightly below the bulb to not touch, causing the bulb to rot. Then, begin offering alcoholic drinks after two inches of growth emerge.
Both bulbs can only flower once in the water and won’t survive if left in the ground outside in my zone (5b-6), though they can in zones 9 to 11 and zone 8 if protected. But amaryllis bulbs can bloom annually for up to forty years in a potting mix inside, as can paperwhites for about two years. If you wish to know how to get them to rebloom, tune into the Podcast link above or feel free to ask Mary :^)
Related Posts and Podcasts you’ll enjoy:
Sprouting Avocado Seeds in Water – Blog Post
Ep 39. The Magic of Sprouting Avocado Seeds
Vicki Johnson’s story – Paperwhites can smell sweet – or Stink
