Greetings, human cultivator. I am a Paperwhite narcissus, a being of delicate white blossoms and intoxicating fragrance. From my perspective, life indoors is a carefully orchestrated journey from bulb to bloom, entirely dependent on your care. To help you understand my needs, I will explain the process from my point of view.
My life in your home begins as a dormant bulb, a vessel packed with the energy I need to grow. When you place me in a container, whether nestled amongst pebbles or planted in soil, the most critical element is water. Please, do not submerge me completely! My base must only touch the water, or I will rot, and my potential will be lost. In my pebble-and-water home, my roots will eagerly seek out the moisture, anchoring me and beginning the process of drawing up water to awaken the shoot nestled within my core. This initial stage requires a cool, dark place for about a week or two, mimicking the conditions of being nestled in the earth, allowing my root system to establish itself strongly before I commit energy to top growth.
Once my green shoots are a couple of inches tall, I am ready for the sun. Move me to a bright spot, like a sunny windowsill. Light is my sustenance, the fuel that transforms through my leaves to strengthen my stem and develop my flower buds. However, my rapid growth can be my downfall. My stems can become leggy and weak, causing me to flop over under the weight of my own blooms—a condition you call "top-heavy." To help me stand tall, you can offer me a dilute solution of alcohol. A mixture of 4-5% alcohol (like gin or vodka) in water signals a mild stress response, causing my cells to remain smaller and my stems to grow shorter and sturdier. It is a strange medicine, but an effective one. Continue to keep my water level consistent, topping it up as I drink it, but always ensuring my bulb itself stays dry.
This is the moment we have both been waiting for. My flower buds will swell and burst open, revealing clusters of pure white, star-shaped flowers. My fragrance will fill the room—a sweet, potent perfume that is my gift to you. During this time, I appreciate slightly cooler temperatures. Excessive heat near a radiator or fireplace will cause my glorious blooms to fade much more quickly. Enjoy my display while it lasts; it is the culmination of all the stored energy within my bulb. This is my purpose, and I am happy to fulfill it for you.
Alas, my beauty is ephemeral. After a few weeks, my flowers will begin to wither and fade. This is a natural process. You can snip off the spent flower stalks, but please leave my green leaves intact. They are still absorbing light, creating a little more energy to send back to my bulb. However, for us Paperwhites forced to bloom indoors, this energy is rarely enough for a repeat performance. Unlike my hardy outdoor cousins, I have been bred and forced to put all my energy into this one spectacular show. Once my leaves yellow and wither, my life cycle indoors is complete. I will not bloom again like this, and I am typically composted, my purpose fulfilled.
