paperwhites

[Di in Tx]

I moved a number of bulbs from house in Phoenix and planted in Sept here in Lampasas, they are already up and starting to bloom. I just left them in the ground there year round, despite the heat and they thrived and multiplied. Can I leave them inground here and expect the same results as Az? So far the deer and squirrles are leaving them alone.

[chuckfranke]

I usually pull mine for indoor forcing but left a few outside last winter - they and the Amaryllis I left in the ground accidentally did just fine - they were in my rose beds with a pretty heavy cover of compost and mulch. I used a fertilizer this year in the rose beds with rock phosphate and the bulbs really expanded - big time.

Unlike Arizona we have this weird stuff here called 'rain' - makes it necessary to make sure you don't plant them in a spot that stays soaking wet or the bulbs tend to rot a bit...

[Di in Tx]

Yes, I forgot about the rain,a lady in San Marcos told me the same thing yesterday. I might just leave them inground just to see what happens, thank you!

[trishas]

My paperwhites often bloom in October and again in Feb., especially if given some organic fertilizer. They will need to be divided every two or three years or they will stop blooming. I always plant the ones I force indoors and they do well, even though it is usually suggested that they should be discarded. One mans trash...