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Follow-up on Forcing Tulip Bulbs

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.

[1]

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Last updated: Tuesday, February 01, 2005