I thought I would try growing paperwhites this winter to add some color and fragrance in my kitchen. Do you have some tips on how to grow them?  — Carrie Mergenthaler, Chicago  Paperwhites are easy to grow indoors and it’s so nice to have some flowers and fragrance through the winter season. They are generally forced to bloom indoors in the winter and are available with white or yellow flowers. Paperwhites are not hardy here, so they are only used for forcing. They have a very strong fragrance, so one pot of paperwhites is usually plenty for one room. Paperwhite bulbs do not need much space. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden) The bulbs do not need much space, so plant them in tight clumps that are almost touching in either a potting medium or pebbles. I prefer using a potting medium. The potting medium should be specially designed for container plants. It should provide support for the plants and be suitable for roots to grow through. Install the bulbs so that the top of the bulb is level with or about 1/2 inch above the top of the growing medium. Although paperwhites do not require a period of cold and darkness to bloom, it is still a good idea to start them in a cool, dark location and transition them to bright light over a couple of days as the bulbs sprout. The foliage may burn if the plants are moved directly to bright light from the darkness. They do not like to be overwatered. If you plant the bulbs in pebbles, add enough water to be just below or at the base of the bulb to encourage root growth. This is difficult to do if you cannot see through the sides of your container. Drop the water level as the roots develop to avoid rotting the bulbs. If you grow your paperwhites in pebbles, try using a dilute solution of four to five percent alcohol. Once the roots have begun growing and the green shoots reach about 2 inches on top, replace the water with the diluted alcohol solution and continue to supplement with it as needed. This can reduce the height of the foliage by a third while the flowers remain full size and last just as long. The resulting water stress on the plants is just enough to stunt their growth but not interfere with flowering. To convert your alcohol to five percent, divide the percentage of alcohol by five and then subtract one. This will give you how many parts of water to mix with alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is usually 70% alcohol, so mix 13 parts of water to one part rubbing alcohol. Paperwhite bulbs can develop basal rot during shipping or storage. This is caused by the fungus Fusarium. To reduce the possibility of basal rot, purchase bulbs that are free of blemishes, pale in color and firm to the touch. If you encounter bulbs that are brown and mushy rather than firm and white, your bulbs likely have basal rot and should be discarded. Paperwhite bulbs can also rot once planted if they are given too much water. When gardeners grow paperwhites in gravel with standing water, the roots need to maintain contact with water, but the bulb should not. Letting the bulb sit in standing water can lead to rot. It is important to maintain the water level so only the roots are wet, topping off the water level daily if necessary. The new growth of paperwhites can become very leggy and flop over when grown in temperatures greater than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Since most homes are kept warmer than 65 degrees, you will probably need to provide support for the bulbs before they come into flower. They will also be spindly if grown without enough sun. Ideally, paperwhites should be kept in bright light. There is no need to fertilize the bulbs. For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at [email protected]. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.