Paperwhites falling over? 4 ways to keep them upright

Paperwhites fall over because their flower stems grow tall and thin, and the heavy flower clusters bend them. Low light and warm rooms make the stems stretch even more. Mine flopped too. There are four ways to keep them upright. Stake the stems with sticks. Tie them together with a ribbon. Grow the bulbs in a tall vase with straight sides. Or water them with a weak alcohol solution once the shoots are 1 to 2 inches tall. That last trick keeps the plants about a third shorter, and the flowers stay full size.

Are your paperwhites already leaning? Grab a stick or a ribbon today. Planting new bulbs? Pick a tall glass vase, put it in your brightest window, and start the alcohol solution after the roots form. The four fixes are below, after a quick look at why the stems flop.

Why are my paperwhites falling over?

Paperwhite stems flop when they stretch. Two things cause most of the stretch: too little light and too much heat. University of Illinois Extension says to give the plants as much light as possible so they aren’t reaching for it. It also says to keep them in a cool spot in the 60s°F (about 16°C to 20°C) to prevent lanky growth.

Paperwhites are a type of daffodil. Illinois Extension says the two species sold as paperwhites, Narcissus papyraceus and N. tazetta, are native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. They are hardy only to zone 8. They also don’t need a cold period before they bloom, so they are easy to force indoors. Most people grow paperwhites in water, with the bulbs sitting in pebbles instead of soil.

Forced paperwhites grow in warm houses, often far from a bright window. That mix gives you long, soft stems. North Dakota State University Extension notes that paperwhite stems reach about 18 inches tall. A stem that tall, topped with a cluster of flowers, is quick to tip over.

Give the bulbs light as soon as the green shoots appear. Move the container to your brightest window so the stems don’t stretch toward the glass. Turn the container every few days so the stems grow straight. The Old Farmer’s Almanac gives the same advice and adds that leggy plants struggle to hold up their blooms.

Keep the room cool, too. NDSU Extension recommends temperatures in the 60s°F and bright, indirect light. The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests 60°F to 65°F (16°C to 18°C) once the bulbs have roots. A warm room speeds up growth and gives you taller, weaker stems.

‘Ziva’ is the most widely grown paperwhite, according to Illinois Extension. Cornell used ‘Ziva’ paperwhites in its alcohol trial, which is described below. Illinois Extension notes that ‘Ziva’ has a strong, musky scent that some people dislike. ‘Inbal’ is another pure white paperwhite with a milder scent.

“…The ethereal beauty of paper-white Narcissus papyraceus will work well in any style of home. The flowers also have the lovelies of scents. The stems often need supporting.”

Gardening Indoors: Creative Designs for Plants in the Home, by Diana Yakeley

How to keep paperwhites from falling over

Here are four ways to keep your paperwhites from falling over. The first three hold up stems that already lean. The fourth keeps the stems short from the start.

1. Support them with sticks

The simplest fix is a stick. Push one or more stakes into the pebbles or soil next to the stems. Floral stakes, floral wire, and bamboo skewers all work. University of Wisconsin Extension also suggests staking paperwhite stems once they start to flop.

Twigs from the yard look prettier than plain stakes. Red dogwood stems suit Christmas paperwhites. Branching sticks with a bit of lichen or moss work well too. The picture above uses a twig from a mulberry bush tied with thin jute twine. There’s a close-up below.

“Your plants may need support as they grow. Canes and stakes are strong and practical but don’t always look good. So, collect interesting branches on walks (sometimes with the added bonus of lichen) and use these. Birch twigs pushed into the potting compost (soil mix) in a container both support fragile stems and enhance a composition.”

Gardening Indoors: Creative Designs for Plants in the Home, by Diana Yakeley

2. Support them with a ribbon

Tie a ribbon around the stems to hold them together. Red, gold, and white ribbon look festive. Burlap and raffia look more natural.

Tie the ribbon about two-thirds of the way up the stems. That height keeps them from flopping. The ribbon holds the stems up and adds to the look of the arrangement.

3. Support them with a tall straight-sided vase

Skip the shallow dish and plant the bulbs in a tall, clear glass vase with straight sides. The glass holds the bottom part of the stems in place. NDSU Extension says tall, columnar bowls keep the 18-inch stems upright. Tie a ribbon around the vase for extra hold, or leave it plain.

Don’t want a clear vase or a ribbon? I get it. Plant the bulbs in potting soil in a solid metal flower pot instead. Illinois Extension suggests covering the bulbs so only the tips show. Add a stake if the stems start to lean.

4. Stunt their growth with alcohol

Researchers at Cornell University found that watering paperwhites with a weak alcohol solution keeps them shorter. In the Cornell trial, the plants grew about a third shorter than usual. The flowers stay just as large and last just as long. The shorter stems don’t flop over. The alcohol makes it harder for the plant to take up water. That slight water stress slows stem and leaf growth but doesn’t affect the flowers.

Start the bulbs in plain water. Wait about a week, until the roots are growing and the green shoot stands 1 to 2 inches above the bulb. Pour off the water. Refill with a 4% to 6% alcohol solution and use it for every watering after that. This is easiest when the bulbs sit in pebbles and water.

For a 40% spirit such as vodka or gin, mix 1 part spirit with 7 parts water. That makes about 5% alcohol. To make 2 cups, mix 1¾ cups of water with ¼ cup of 40% liquor. For 70% rubbing alcohol, mix 1 part with 10 or 11 parts water. Don’t use beer or wine. Their sugars harm the plants. Keep the solution well under 10% alcohol, because growth problems start above that.

“The result will be a plant that is 1/3 shorter, but with flowers just as large, fragrant, and long-lasting as usual. But, the plant will be nicely proportioned and won’t need support stakes, wires, or other gizmos to keep it upright. You will see results within just a few days.”

Pickling your Paperwhites: Using Alcohol to Reduce Growth of Paperwhite Narcissus, by William B. Miller, Professor of Horticulture, Director of the Flowerbulb Research Program, Cornell University

Paperwhites falling over FAQ

Can you fix paperwhites that already fell over?

Yes. Stake the stems or tie them with a ribbon. The alcohol solution slows new growth, so it helps most when you start it early. It won’t straighten stems that have already bent.

How tall do paperwhites grow?

Paperwhite stems reach about 18 inches tall, according to NDSU Extension. Warm rooms and low light make them stretch taller. Bright light and a room in the 60s°F keep them shorter.

Does the alcohol trick work for paperwhites in soil?

Yes. In a reply on the Cornell Horticulture blog, bulb researcher Bill Miller said it also works in soil. He suggested a weaker mix, about 1 part 40% liquor to 8 parts water.

How long do paperwhites take to bloom?

University of Wisconsin Extension says paperwhites bloom 3 to 5 weeks after planting. Illinois Extension gives 4 to 6 weeks. Plant a new batch every 10 days for blooms all winter.