Boozing Up The Indoor Bulbs

My paperwhites tied to the stake

When it's cold and snowing outside, some of us appreciate a nip of rum or Irish Whiskey added to our drink, providing warmth and comfort. It has been found that paperwhite narcissus also would respond favorably to this libation.

It is common for amaryllis and paperwhites to need support or stakes to keep them from flopping over. I usually used the green wire (that everyone has for wreaths during the holidays) to form a ring that kept the paperwhites together. Each plant leaned on each other for support. This usually worked for a while until one decided it had enough and flopped over, pulling down the entire brood with it.

Cornell University found that giving them alcohol after they began growing tended to reduce this long, leggy growth and prevented the need for stakes and supports. This has worked (so far) on amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus, according to the researchers.

Cornell's results

There was no effect on the blooms -- only the leaves and stems were affected. The belief is that a 5-8% solution of alcohol in water (rubbing alcohol also works) reduces uptake of water, limiting the green growth. Alcohols with sugars like cordials, rums, and wines are not advised, as the sugars negatively affect the plants. Something with more pure alcohol probably works best, like gin or vodka. An alcohol concentration over 10% is also not advised -- everything in moderation applies to paperwhites, too.

I have heard about this, but never tried it. Giving it a go this year with tequila and vodka, and will post the results next month.

So in the cold winter months, take a little hooch, and share some with your indoor bulbs, too. You will both be happy.

The Cornell University report: Pickling Your Paperwhites

Paper-Yellows

Surprise the customers. I bought paperwhite narcissus at a local nursery last year after searching throughout town for the least expensive. I was buying for the master gardeners. I am VP of Training, and it was graduation time, when the rookie newbies were graduating from the training program to CERTIFIED master gardener status. It was a custom to hand out a small goodie bag to the graduates as they walked across the stage (front of the room) to receive their diplomas (certificates) and shake hands. I put together the best goodie bag ever with the extremely limited funds available. Included among some symbolic and useless items was one paperwhite bulb. My best price was $0.99 each. After class, I went back and bought six more bulbs for myself and planted them in time for a Christmas bloom. Four responded on schedule. A few more lallygagged well into January. And, then yellow. The late bloomers were yellow (obviously a different variety with different bloom characteristics). I wonder if any master gardeners got yellow, after their training coordinator labeled them as paperWHITES.

Speaking of color, one sunrise greeted me with some after a January snowfall.

Red sky at morning,
sailors take warning.
Red sky at night,
sailor's delight.

We got another snowfall after this morning sky.