And it seems gin is also better than vodka...
You may remember my experiments last year with stunting the growth of paperwhites using water mixed with alcohol: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1159312
This year, I used vodka instead of gin and I am having problems with the water becoming moldy/slimy in several of the vases. I had absolutely no problems with either the gin or rubbing alcohol waters last year. So, back to gin next year (and possibly for the remaining bulbs that I haven't switched from plain water yet just to determine if it is really the gin or something in this year's batch of bulbs.)
I also picked up a sad orphan amaryllis that will likely stay on plain water b/c he's having a hard enough time growing as it is.
I have some hyacinths chilling in my cold closet waiting to be planted in a week or so. Will do some over water and some in soil.
Anyone else forcing bubs this winter?
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THREE flower spikes? 
I've never seen one make more than two.
Makes my poor little guy look even sadder. In his defense, he did start sending up a flower stalk in his dark, waterless box in the hardware store which is why he was on the sale rack in the first place-- guess he had a pretty powerful will of his own, now that I think about it. 
The little amaryllis that could
I wonder if my amaryllis will even wake up next year?
This had to take a lot out of it.
smells like after-shave! Only vodka (and Kahlua!) around here!!!
That's why I used vodka this year. We generally don't have gin around. And, of course, bear in mind that the vodka could have NOTHING to do w/it and it's some other random problem (perhaps related to the sluggishness in rooting I was telling you about.)
I would guess no on the adding Kahlua too, but maybe plants like a nice Black Russian, who knows?? 
Thanks!
They are beautiful.
put the vodka in a glass, add a little OJ, some ice, and drink it down. It won't do anything for your plants, but you won't care, either.
I noticed that the alcohol plants were NOT as healthy as the water plants. the possible growth restriction could be from reduced cell growth from the ALDEHYDE'S in the alcohol?
Try double and triple distilled alcohols to see it cell growth is AFFECTED by carcinogenic chemicals in alcohol.
I should have never taken two years of chemistry in college and just taken my physics courses E=MC^2
the stunting of their height. They produce as many flowers and actually live a bit longer b/c they don't keel over as they get taller.
The foliage stays nice and green and they produce just as many flowers. And no need to tie them up into ugly bundles as they grow.
I do wonder what inspired the original Cornell chemists to think of turning the paperwhites onto booze.
The reason is to inhibit the paperwhites tendancy to grow so tall that they flop over before the end of their growing period (see my orginal linked post.)
And WELCOME to DU!
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*This group is a bit slow in the winter months, but hope you'll stick around for the real growing season next year.
Err . . . no.
keel over like drunks.
Let's see: I prefer potting them in potting soil, 6 inch pot, as soon as I can get them, usually September. I put them in the fridge for I think 8-12 weeks (sources disagree on length needed), then take them out and put them in my cold basement, start watering a little. Once the shoots get a couple of inches tall I put them in a cool window that gets some sun (not too direct or full). When forcing in water, mine wanted to fall over big-time, so I prefer having them in soil. I think one year I put the bag of bulbs directly in the fridge and then forced them on water. The ones I force in soil I plant outside later (let the foliage get plenty of sun to feed the bulb) and they often come back and bloom. Have read that forcing them in water depletes the bulb so much that they can't recover and bloom again outside- but haven't tried that. Good luck- I can't wait to take out my pots in the next couple of weeks and get my winter garden going! New amaryllis getting ready to bloom, too. 