How to Transplant Dormant Paperwhite Bulbs

Clear the planting area of debris and weeds and cultivate it to a depth of 10 to 12 inches using a garden fork or tiller after the paperwhites’ foliage dies back and the threat of a hard freeze ends. Choose an area with well-draining soil that gets full sunlight half the day and partial sunlight the rest of the day.

Distribute 2 pounds of 6-24-24 fertilizer per 100 square feet over the soil using a broadcast spreader. If planting in heavy clay soil, add 25 to 55 gallons of coarse river sand per 100 square feet after the fertilizer. Work the soil again to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.

Dig one 6-inch-deep hole for each paperwhite bulb using a garden trowel and space the holes 6 to 12 inches apart. If planting the paperwhites for use in a cut-flower display, space each bulb 1 inch apart. Make the holes twice as wide as the bulbs when planting individually. If planting bulbs in clumps, allow 2 to 3 inches of width for each bulb and space the holes 2 to 3 feet apart. For instance, if planting a clump of 12 paperwhites, make the hole 24 to 36 inches wide.

Insert the garden trowel around the perimeter of the container holding the paperwhite bulbs to loosen the soil. Tap the side of the container on a hard surface and slide the soil mass from it. Scrape away the soil surrounding the bulbs and the roots using a pencil or wood skewer.

Place one paperwhite bulb basal-end down in each hole. If planting in clumps, place 6 to 12 bulbs in the hole, again basal-end down, and space them 1 to 2 inches apart. Backfill the hole with the excavated soil.

Water the soil to a depth of 6 inches using a watering can with a fine rose or a garden hose with a fine nozzle. Cover the planting area with 2 inches of shredded bark, pine needles or wood chips.