Paperwhite Narcissi are deliciously fragrant and they can grow and bloom even without soil!
Want to grow your own? Payne's sells narcissus bulbs and everything needed for this super simple "do-it-yourself" project. It's a great project for kids to enjoy, too.

Here are two ways to force paperwhites to flower:

1. Choose a pot that’s only slightly larger than the bulb, or plant several bulbs in a large enough container to hold them 1 inch apart.
2. Use a well-drained soilless potting mix
3. Set the bulbs into the soil so that their top third is exposed above the surface. 
4. Water with warm water and put the pot(s) in a sunny area where temperatures stay about 50-60ºF. Keep the soil just moist (not soggy ― no standing water in the saucer). They’ll bloom in about weeks.

In a shallow bowl or container:
1. Fill a shallow bowl, pot, or container part way with decorative stones or gravel.
2. Set several Paperwhite bulbs onto the stones, pushing them down just far enough so the bulbs are supported in an upright position, bloom end up and base down.
3. Add water just to the bottom of the bulb. If water covers too much of the bulb, they can rot.
4. Put the bowl or pot in a cool, dark place for one to two weeks. When the roots have taken hold and the plant has sprung from the bulb, move the plant into a brightly lit room. Four to six weeks later, they will be in bloom!


If the stems on the Paperwhites get long and "leggy" tie them together with colorful ribbon. If they need more support, add a stake to tie the ribbon around.

When the bulbs have finsihed blooming, cut the flower and stem off, but do not cut back the leaves. Put the plants in a sunny window and transplant them outdoors when the weather permits. It may take two or three years before they will bloom again because they need to "re-charge" their bulbs with energy.