Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are perfect bulbs for indoor forcing during the winter holidays, but many gardeners have trouble with their paperwhites getting too tall and leggy and then falling over. To some extent you can control the height of your paperwhites by keeping them cool and bright, but if you don’t have the needed cool, bright location, then this sloppy, floppy growth can be an annoying problem. You can stake them upright or tie them up with string to correct the floppiness problem, or you can try to prevent the problem by giving your paperwhites alcohol. Yup, alcohol as in hard liquor – or alcohol as in rubbing alcohol.
Alcohol Keeps Paperwhites Short
Recently, it’s been shown that giving your paperwhites a little alcohol can help keep the foliage and stems at only about one half to 2/3 their normal height while the flowers stay their regular size. The following is based on recommendations from William B. Miller, Professor of Horticulture and Director of the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University.
When to Start Adding Alcohol
Procedure: plant your paperwhites in gravel and water the normal way. (How to Plant Paperwhites) Once the shoots are about two inches tall, pour or siphon out the water you used to start them. Replace that with a solution of water and alcohol. Use this solution instead of plain water from now on to top up your container.
Which Alcohol to Use: Isopropyl (Rubbing Alcohol) or Distilled Spirits
You need a mix that is about 5% alcohol. At a higher concentration (about 10% or above) the alcohol will damage the plants, so don’t overdo it. To achieve that proportion, you can use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) with water mixed at one part alcohol to ten parts water.
Or, you can use the good stuff, a “hard liquor” (typically 40% distilled spirit) such as gin, vodka, or whiskey. Mix together one part liquor and seven parts water to make a 5% solution.
Do NOT Use Beer or Wine on Paperwhites
Caution: beer and wine are not suitable for use on paperwhites.
Tips on Using Alcohol for Your Paperwhites
Keep the alcohol/water solution just below the bottom of the bulbs, they should not sit in the liquid. Do not pour it over the foliage, just add it to the container. Do not spill it on your table top, it may ruin the finish.
Do I Have to Pour Out the Original Water?
It’s up to you. But consider the following when you make your decision.
Rather than pouring out the original water, you could simply add some alcohol to the water already in the container, but doing it this way makes it difficult to judge the appropriate amount of alcohol needed. If you use too much, they’ll die. Too little, it doesn’t keep them short. Or, you could simply start topping it up with the alcohol/water solution from now on. This results in a lower concentration of alcohol overall and consequently is less effective at keeping them short.
In my opinion, if you are going to the trouble of adding the alcohol you might as well do it right.
Enjoy your short paperwhites this winter!
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Copyright December 1, 2006 Barbara M. Martin All Rights Reserved
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