How to get paperwhite Narcissus, amaryllis to bloom
Q: I was gifted a paperwhite Narcissus for Christmas. Can I plant it out in my landscape now that it is no longer blooming?
A: Paperwhites ― Narcissus papyraceus ― are a popular bulb to give at the holidays, as they can be grown in water and bloom indoors. They have white flowers that perfume the room with a sweet smell.
After booms fade, cut back the flower stalk and leave the plant in a spot with bright light for six to eight weeks. Bulbs replenish their energy after blooming with photosynthesis, so the longer you can leave the green leaves after blooming, the stronger the blub will be the next bloom season.
To plant out into the landscape, choose a spot that will not be dug up and planted later in the year.
Dig a hole deep enough to cover the top of the bulb by a couple of inches. Mix a spoonful of bulb fertilizer or bone meal with the soil in the bottom of the hole, then place the roots into the loose soil so they are spread out. You want to avoid “J rooting” the roots; when the roots are bent back onto themselves in a “J” shape.
Fill the hole and water. Once planted don't overwater the plant. Blubs only need to be watered when the soil becomes dry.
Let the foliage yellow and dry up naturally.
With any potted bulb you plant out into the landscape, inspect the bulb, roots and foliage to make sure it's not suffering from a virus or nematodes. You don't want these in your landscape.
If the paperwhite was grown in water, it could be a couple of years before it blooms again.
Bulbs grown in soil will bloom the next season in landscape, but due to colder soil temperatures, the bulb will most likely bloom in February.
For paperwhite bulbs grown in a pot with soil, you can leave the bulb in the pot and it will bloom again next year. If you plan to leave in the pot, fertilize the plant now with a bulb fertilizer and leave in a brightly lit area for six to seven weeks. Once the foliage starts to turn yellow, place the pot on its side and put it into a dark area where it will not freeze. Let the pot dry out and leave in the dark place until four to six weeks before you want it to bloom. To get the bulb to bloom, move it to a warm brightly-lit spot and water it.
How to get holiday amaryllis to bloom again
Another bulb popular around Christmas is amaryllis ― Amaryllis belladonna.
Follow the same procedures described for the paperwhites if you're planting them into the outdoor landscape. They'll bloom later in the season, usually in March or April, depending on soil temperatures. Make sure to plant the amaryllis in a well-drained area as they will rot if soil is too wet.
Most people treat them as a house plant and leave them in the pot. If the Amaryllis was a waxed blub, you need to remove the wax from around the bulb and plant it into a pot with a well-draining potting soil. To grow as a house plant, cut back flower stalk after blooming and fertilize. Leave the plant in a brightly-lit spot and water only when the soil is dry. If grown in a brightly lit area all year, it should bloom next season or more often.
The Shasta Master Gardeners Program can be reached by phone at 530-242-2219 or email mastergardener@shastacollege.edu. The gardener office is staffed by volunteers trained by the University of California to answer gardeners' questions using information based on scientific research.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: How to get paperwhite Narcissus, amaryllis to bloom
