How to Keep a Paperwhite Narcissus Alive

Planting the Bulbs Properly

• 1

  Fill a shallow decorative bowl or plant pot one-half to two-thirds full of potting soil or pebbles. The bulbs will need at least 1 to 2 inches of soil or gravel to be able to sit deep enough in the pot.

• 2

  Put the bulbs in the soil or gravel so that they stick about halfway out of the surface of the soil or gravel. This planting technique will force paperwhite narcissus bulbs to bloom, even during winter.

• 3

  Add extra soil or gravel as needed to hold the bulbs in place.

• 4

  Water bulbs in gravel so that their bases are submerged. Use enough water to ensure that the water line is level with the surface of the gravel. Water bulbs in soil enough to thoroughly moisten the soil.

• 5

  Add more water periodically as needed to maintain the same amount of moisture.

• 6

  Place the containers in sunlight.

Maintaining the Flowers

• 7

  Remove the plants from direct sunlight once they begin to flower. Shade will help keep the blooms alive as long as possible.

• 8

  Keep the blooms in the coolest area of the home to prolong their life. Temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit will help keep them alive and prevent them from growing tall enough to tip over.

• 9

  Continue to water the bulbs after they finish blooming to keep them alive for the next year.

• 10

  Add balanced low-nitrogen fertilizer to the soil. Because different fertilizer ratios contain different nutrient concentrations, follow manufacturer's instructions regarding the exact amount of fertilizer to use.

• 11

  Stop watering the bulbs when their leaves turn brown during the spring.

• 12

  Remove the dormant bulbs from their containers after the plant foliage dies and store them in a cool and dry place until next year.