Knowledgebase
Tulips in pots #778371
Asked November 26, 2021, 11:25 AM EST
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
In general, you need to simulate winter for the bulbs that you want to force to bloom indoors in late winter. The website below from the University of Minnesota recommends potting the bulbs and then storing in 35-48 degree temperatures within the pots for at least 12-13 weeks. It will take about 3-4 weeks after removing them from the cold temperatures for them to begin blooming. See the websites below for additional details. Note that bulbs that have been forced once will not generally work to bloom well again another time.
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/growing-bulbs-indoors
https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2015/12/ForcingBulbs.pdf