logo dark logo light logo
  • Home
  • Products
    • Wet & Forget Outdoor
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Wet & Forget Indoor
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Wet & Forget Shower
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Miss Muffet’s Revenge
      • Application
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
  • Videos
    • Wet & Forget Outdoor Videos
    • Wet & Forget Indoor Videos
    • Wet & Forget Shower Videos
    • Miss Muffets Revenge Videos
    • New Home Spotlight
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
  • Store Locator
  • Visit Wet & Forget
Menu
mobile logo
  • Home
  • Products
    • Wet & Forget Outdoor
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Wet & Forget Indoor
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Wet & Forget Shower
      • Application
      • Before & Afters
      • Surfaces
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
    • Miss Muffet’s Revenge
      • Application
      • Testimonials
      • FAQs
  • Videos
    • Wet & Forget Outdoor Videos
    • Wet & Forget Indoor Videos
    • Wet & Forget Shower Videos
    • Miss Muffets Revenge Videos
    • New Home Spotlight
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
  • Store Locator
  • Visit Wet & Forget
Tulip in a vase
March 2, 2015
Gardening, Home Décor

The Secret to Growing Tulips in a Vase

Tulips are one of spring’s greatest beauties. Unfortunately, they only stay a short time before they shed their petals and leave you growing tulips for next year.

But you don’t have only to enjoy tulips during that brief window, or only outside! Read on to discover how to grow tulips indoors and relish their beautiful blooms for months.

Step One: Prepare the Bulbs

tulip bulbs
The secret to growing beautiful tulips indoors is to mimic outdoor conditions as closely as possible, especially before you actually “plant” the bulbs. Tulip bulbs are accustomed to spending a dormant period underground during the cold season.

It may seem like nothing is going on, but many bulb-type plants, including tulips, depend on this cold, dark “resting” time to prepare themselves to shoot up in the spring.

Before you put tulip bulbs in a vase or pot, you will need to chill them first. Store your tulip bulbs in a cold, dark place.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends a cooling period of 14 to 20 weeks at 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Your basement or the crisper drawer in your refrigerator are two places where you can chill your tulip bulbs.

Store your tulip bulbs in something breathable such as a mesh bag or paper sack; avoid plastic bags because your bulbs could rot. The bulbs will begin to sprout and form roots during this period, preparing them for planting.

You can also buy pre-chilled tulip bulbs.

Don’t skip this step entirely, though. Tulip bulbs that haven’t been chilled may bloom, but the blooms will be stunted if they do.

Step Two: Plant the Bulbs

Once your tulip bulbs have had their cooling period, the Virginia Cooperative Extension says that, with the proper care, you can expect to see blooms in about two to three weeks. Here are the steps for achieving beautiful tulip blooms in a vase:

  1. Buy a specially-shaped “bulb vase” such as in figure 11 here, which has a cup-shaped top part that holds the bulb up so that only the roots reach the water in the vase. Fill the bottom part of the vase with water, and place the bulb in the top. Alternatively, you can buy a straight-sided glass vase and fill the bottom with glass “vase gems.” Pour water around the vase gems, and place the bulb so that it rests on top of the vase gems but not in the water. The idea is to have the roots in the water, but not the bulb itself, because a wet bulb will rot.
  2. Place the bulb and vase in a warm location that receives indirect sunlight. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, 60 to 65 degrees is an ideal temperature for this step, but room temperature will work, too. The bulb will form leaves and flowers. Keep the vase here until the shoots turn green.
  3. Once the shoots have turned green, move the vase to a warmer area with more sunlight.
  4. Rotate the vase ¼ turn regularly so your tulips get even sunlight and so you get lovely well-balanced plants.
  5. Enjoy your beautiful blooms!

 

Bonus: Two More Ways to Enjoy Beautiful Tulips Indoors!

Growing tulips in a vase is a beautiful way to bring these spring beauties indoors and enjoy their blooms even during the winter. But maybe you have tulips in your garden too and want to bring in some cut flowers, or perhaps you want to use that unique planter you picked up at the farmer’s market.

Here are some valuable tips from the University of Vermont Extension on how to care for cut tulips and extend their beauty to its maximum duration. Figure 6 in this booklet from the Virginia Cooperative Extension shows you the perfect way to plant tulips in a pot with soil. Above the diagram is a description of the ideal potting soil for tulips.

Remember: if you’re planting different tulips in the same pot, always pair early-season bloomers together in the same pot, rather than mixing tulips that bloom at different times.

Enjoy your tulips!

Photos courtesy of C X 2, Maureen Didde, and bark.

Discover the secret to growing tulips in a vase with our easy guide!

Related Posts

  • Houseplants to Beautify any Room, Scrub the Air, and Soothe your SoulHouseplants to Beautify any Room, Scrub the Air, and Soothe your Soul
  • All About Planting Spring Blooming Bulbs in FallAll About Planting Spring Blooming Bulbs in Fall
  • Build a Vertical Garden and Turn a Small Space into a Big Harvest!Build a Vertical Garden and Turn a Small Space into a Big Harvest!
  • Flower Spotlight: Lovable LavenderFlower Spotlight: Lovable Lavender
  • Forcing Bulbs Indoors for Wintertime EnjoymentForcing Bulbs Indoors for Wintertime Enjoyment
  • How to Celebrate National Plant a Flower DayHow to Celebrate National Plant a Flower Day
Tags: forcing tulip bulbs indoors, growing tulips in a vase, growing tulips indoors, growing tulips inside, how to force tulip bulbs, how to grow tulips in a vase, tulip bulbs, tulips, tulips in a vase
Share:
Posts you'd might like
Color Changing Plants
July 7, 2017
Color Changing Plants & Flowers to Add to Your Garden
garden soil test
September 24, 2015
Boost your Garden with these 8 Fall Planting Ideas
bodacious flower spotlight
March 31, 2015
Check out 5 of our Favorite Flowers to Brighten up your Garden!
COMMENTS
  • Lulu
    May 12, 2017

    Why is the water turning green? I have changed it 2 times in a month, and I remember when I first got them the water was fine until they bloomed. What should I do and how long does it take for them to bloom again? Thanks for your help.

    reply
Post a comment cancel reply

Search
Categories
  • Bathroom Cleaning
  • Gardening
  • Home Décor
  • Home Improvement
  • Indoor Cleaning
  • Miscellaneous
  • Outdoor Cleaning
  • Promotions
  • Spider Control
Recent Posts
  • All About Adding Outdoor Solar Power Lights To Your Yard
  • Staining Outdoor Wood: Your Ultimate Guide
  • Petunias: The Ultimate Care Guide
  • How Hardwood Floors Boost Your Home’s Value
  • Keep Water Away from Your Foundation With Rain Gutter Chains
Tags
best shower cleaner best spider killer black algae clean pool surround clean shower fixtures deck cleaner deck cleaning DIY enter to win get rid of spiders grand prize great backyard giveaway green algae indoor mold kill spiders mildew mildew cleaner mold mold & mildew mold and mildew mold and mildew cleaner mold and mildew remover mold and mildew stains moss moss on roof moss remover remove deck stains remove mold and mildew remove shower grime roof cleaner roof moss save money shower cleaner shower spray soap scum spider spider killer spiders spray and forget spray and rinse spray once spring cleaning vegetable garden water damage weekly shower spray
Cleantalk Pixel