Can Tulips Live Indoors?

Potting

• Any pot that has a bottom drainage hole works well for indoor tulips, as long as its deep enough to hold the bulbs. The size of the pot determines how many bulbs you can plant. For example, five bulbs fit in a 5-inch diameter pot, and six bulbs fit in a 6-inch pot. To plant the bulbs, fill the pot half full with potting soil and arrange the bulbs on the soil surface so their pointed tips are level with the pot rim and the flat bottom faces the walls of the pot. Finish filling the pot with soil, but leave the tip of the bulbs exposed.

Forcing

• Tulips require a 14-week period of darkness and temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees to break their dormancy so they can grow and bloom. After potting, water the soil so it's moist and set the pots outdoors if the weather is cool enough. If it's too warm outside, place the pot in a plastic bag and set it in the refrigerator. The soil needs watering only when it begins to dry so it stays slightly moist.

Light and Location

• Temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees encourage growth after cold treatment. The bulbs also need bright but indirect sunlight at this time. New shoots emerge quickly and within four to five days turn green, indicating it's time to move the pot to a 60 to 70 degree location with direct sunlight. The stems may bend toward the light if it comes from a window. Turning the pot daily helps force the tulips to develop straight stems.

Care Requirements

• Regular watering is the primary care consideration when growing tulips indoors. The soil needs water when the top 1/2-inch begins to feel dry. Excess water drains from the bottom of the pot, so set it on a drip tray and empty the tray after watering. Tulips don't require fertilizer because the bulb contains the nutrients and energy the plant needs for its growth cycle. As the flowers wilt, cut them off so they don't detract from the remaining blooms. Forcing tulips indoors weakens the plants so the bulbs are usually discarded and replaced with new ones after they finish flowering.