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For those of you who tried our tip last November on how to force tulip
bulbs indoors, we would like to tell you what to do next. After the pots
have had 10-12 weeks of a cold treatment, you may remove them from their
storage location and place them in a cool sunny location. A temperature
of 50-60 degrees F [1] is preferred for the frost week or until the shoots
and leaves begin to expand. After this initial adjustment period, you
can then move them into a warmer room in your living area. Provide them
with lots of light and sufficient water such that they are just moist.
You might want to turn the pot a quarter of a turn each day in order to
keep the stems straight. Once the bulbs are blooming, move the pots to
a cool location each night. This cooler temperature will prolong the
life of the flowers. After the flowers have faded, the bulbs are usually
spent and are not likely to flower satisfactorily again. You can either
discard them or, try planting them, realizing they may not grow.
With careful planning in the fall, you can enjoy spring during most of
our coldest months.
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