Expert: Long Island Gardener - 12/27/2007

Question
From Ashland, OR: At the base of each tiny blossom of my paper whites is a round green mass that looks curiously like a "baby bulb." Can they be harvested to grow into bulbs? How does one do this?

Answer
Paperwhites are a one-hit wonder.  Those Baby Bulbs appear from time to time in Bulbs large enough to generate them, but the indoor environment, with so little Sun, and such hot temperatures, and limited day length, provides nothing pleasant for these Narcissus.  (Yes, these are Narcissus, same as those Yellow Bulbs you see outside in the Spring.)

If you lived in Puerto Rico or somewhere it's balmy and tropical, these Bulbs would be perfect as landscape specimens for one season.  Because it takes a long time for those flowers to bloom, and they need Full Sun and rich, healthy Soil.  Ditto your Paperwhites.  I'm guessing they spent the better part of a month under ordinary incandescent lights, and maybe you even grew them in water.  Such practices work for Paperwhites.  But not for re-blooming Paperwhites.

Hard to believe a plant so easy can be a plant so hard in disguise.  And then the 'Baby Bulbs' take YEARS to bloom.

If you'd lke to pursue this on a scientific level, let me know, and we'll talk serious Turkey.  Of course, your standard followups are also invited.