How to Care for Indoor Tulip Bulbs

Bring the garden indoors by growing tulips in containers in your house. Tulips will thrive in a dark room in their initial growing stages. Then, you can move them to a sunny window to enjoy the vivid colors while you're indoors. A decorative pot with blooming tulips also makes an excellent gift for many occasions, including birthdays, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or anytime you want to show a special person in your life that you care.

Things You'll Need

• Tulip bulbs
• Potting soil
• Decorative pot
• Sand

Instructions

1. Determine how many pots are required in relation to the bulbs. Place no more than three bulbs in one container. Ensure that the container has drainage holes in the bottom.

2. Add a small layer of sand or pebbles to the bottom of the pot to aid in draining. Then add a commercial-grade or organic potting soil that drains well. Press the bulbs into the potting soil, equally spacing them around the pot with the fat side facing down. The pointed end of the bulb should be at least 1 inch below the surface of the soil.

3. Place the pot in a dark room and water well. How much water you need to use will depend on the size of the pot. A rule of thumb to go by is to water the soil just until you see water coming out of the drain holes in the saucer. Do not overwater, as tulips do not require a lot of water. Check the bottom of the pot occasionally for signs of roots.

4. Move the pot to a cool, sunny location in the winter after it begins to grow. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out between waterings. Fertilize with any brand of bulb fertilizer that is low in nitrogen for repeat blooms according to package directions. Typically, tulips only need fertilizing once.

References

• Indoor Tulip Planting
• Horticulture and Home Pest News
• Tulip Town Bulbs

Resources

• Tulip Planting Guide