Planting paper whites for Christmas blooms are as integral to our family tradition as balsam swags and a tree. They bloom reliably exactly 4 weeks after they are set into place, so I start them the day after Thanksgiving to time them for the holiday week. I bring out a variety of pots and bowls ranging from a single cup to hold just one bulb for the bureau to a wide bowl that will hold 8 bulbs for a spectacular table display, and set them into small pebbles. It’s that easy.
Paper whites can be found this time of year in garden stores or catalogs such as White Flower Farm, yet it the best deal is to buy a bag of 100 bulbs in the early fall. Keep planting them every few weeks, as you would a successive crop of lettuce during the summer, in order to keep indoor blooms going all winter.
