Grow your paperwhite bulbs
Thank you for choosing gifts that grow from Burghblooms! Whether you brought home a single bulb or one of my full kits, I’m so glad these little winter lights will be blooming on your windowsill soon.
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Paperwhites are wonderfully unfussy - give them a place to root, a drink of water, and a bit of patience, and they’ll reward you with elegant white blooms in just a few weeks.
If you purchased single bulbs
You can plant paperwhites in almost anything:
a shallow dish with pebbles, a small pot with soil, moss, marbles, or any decorative medium you love.
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To plant:
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Choose a watertight container without drainage holes.
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Fill it with your chosen medium. Nestle your bulb so the bottom half is supported and the top peeks above the surface.
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If you're using marbles/pebbles, add water just until it touches the very base of the bulb — not covering it.
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If you're using soil, add water to dampen the soil so that it's wet but not overly soggy.
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Place in a bright spot, away from direct heat.
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Refresh the water as needed to maintain that shallow level/keep the soil moist.
Roots will appear within a week, green shoots shortly after, and blooms in 4–6 weeks.
If you purchased a Paperwhite Table Garden Kit
Your kit includes a decorative tin, coco coir growing medium, and three Nir jumbo paperwhite bulbs.
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To plant:
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Remove the bulbs from the tin, leaving the coco coir disc in the tin.
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Add 3 cups of water to reconstitute the coir - after a few minutes it will fluff up into a soft, airy growing medium.
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Take out any extra coco coir, so that there is about half an inch of space at the top.
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Nestle the three bulbs into the coir with their pointed tips facing up. Keep the top â…“ of each bulb exposed.
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Place the tin in a bright spot and check moisture weekly. Add small amounts of water as needed.
Your bulbs will root quickly and begin sending up shoots — blooms usually follow in 4–6 weeks.
If you’re not ready to plant yet
Paperwhites don’t mind waiting a little while.
Store your bulbs in a cool, dry place until you’re ready - somewhere like a pantry, closet, or unheated room (but not freezing). Keep them out of direct sunlight and don’t refrigerate them with fruit. Bulbs and ripening fruit don’t get along; the ethylene gas from fruit can damage the bulbs.
As long as they stay dry and cool, your bulbs will happily wait a few weeks before planting.
A few gentle tips
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Paperwhites grow tall; turning the container every few days helps keep the stems straight.
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Cooler rooms = longer-lasting blooms.
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As the stems reach for the sun, they may need a bit of support - a small twig works perfectly. Brighter, indirect light will result in stockier plants, while growing in a place with less light will make the plants lankier.
If you share your blooms, tag me on Instagram @burghblooms — I’d love to see how your winter garden unfolds. And if you have any questions about growing your paperwhites, just email me at lahia@burghblooms.com and I'll be happy to help!