Bulb Preparation and Potting Instructions
Bulbs will need a cooling period so that enzymes which trigger root production will be released. Plan on 10 to 14 weeks for the cooling and rooting process.
To force blooms for February, obtain early blooming tulip bulbs in early October. You will need 5 or 6 bulbs for each 6” clay pot. Refrigerate bulbs in paper bags for 5-6 weeks. Do not store fruits during this time as some released gases will harm bulbs.
Place 1” of gravel in the bottom of the pot. Add a 2” layer of gently firmed potting soil. (Learners could make their own potting mix from available ingredients such as equal parts of top soil, sand and organic peat.)
Place one bulb, point up, on the soil in the center of the pot. Place 4 or 5 bulbs around the center bulb. Bulbs can touch each other but not the pot edges. The first leaves will grow up uniformly along the outside of the arrangement if the flat side of the bulb faces the pot edge.
Fill the pot with the potting mix and gently firm the soil around the bulbs. Soil line should be 1” below pot rim.
Place pots in a dark, cool area that remains above freezing but is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and leave for 5-6 weeks while the roots develop. Keep slightly moist but do not overwater.
As growth begins to emerge, acclimate bulbs by bringing pots into a warmer dark area for several days, then moving them into a sunny room. Plants should be 2-3 inches tall at this point. Increase water as needed to keep soil moist.