Question
A friend gave me a pot of paperwhites that she was going to throw out.  They were not very green and had no support ties so are twisted and droopy.  They are greener now since I received them.I bought soil and a larger pot for replanting.  Do I cut them back? If so how far?  Prior to me having them they had flowers and she cut them off when they dried up.  They now are long stocks with no flowers.  I plan to keep indoors(I live in Phx). How do I repot? There are about 9 bulbs in the small pot.  I hated to see her toss them out.

Answer
Hi Jo,

I commend your efforts to save the paperwhites. However, I have to tell you that paperwhites that are forced at this time of year rarely flower ever again, especially indoors. When they do flower, the flowers are rather weak and don't last very long. These are hybrids that have been bred to produce one spectacular show of flowers. After that, they disappoint.

If you still want to keep them alive, then keep them in the same pot, place them on your sunniest windowsill, and water thoroughly whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. Trim off any flower stalks or leaves that have turned yellow or brown. Move it outside in spring when temps are consistently above 50 degrees.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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