How to Preserve Paperwhites

Store unplanted bulbs at room temperature in a brown paper bag. Keep them dry. Unlike other narcissus, paperwhites do not require cold storage to bloom. In fact, they will not grow if you do.

Preserve indoor blooming paperwhites by setting them in cool area at night and when they are not on display. Between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. If you give your paperwhites some cooler storage while they are in bloom, they'll flower for up to three weeks, according to Washington State University.

Continue to replenish the water for indoor paperwhites after they bloom and keep them in a sunny spot until the foliage dies back in several months. Cut the foliage back and store the bulbs again during dormancy for four to six months. Then, bring them back out and start over. Alternatively, if desired, plant indoor growing bulbs outdoors in zones 8 to 11 in the spring after the last frost. Plant them approximately 6 inches deep.

Grow outdoor paperwhites in an area that receives lots of morning sunlight, but is shaded or partially shaded during the afternoon. They will bloom longer if they are protected from the hot afternoon sun.

Keep outdoor growing paperwhites in the garden during the winter in zones 8 and warmer. In cooler climates, dig up the bulbs in the fall when the foliage wilts and store them in a paper bag at room temperature until spring.