How To Grow Spring Bulbs Indoors
While the snow was piled outside, I had tulips growing inside! I have to admit, I loved watching them grow on my dining room table and it was so good to see a glimpse of green. A sign that spring would soon be here. Last spring was the first year that I had planted spring containers, so it was a bit of a learning curve, but well worth it! Now that it is fall again, I am ready to jump back in. So how do you grow spring bulbs indoors? Let’s break it down into 6 simple steps.
What You Will Need:
Container
Bulbs
Bulb Fertilizer
Potting Soil
Step 1: Grab A Container
Start by grabbing a container. It is recommended to have a wide shallow container, but I did use a bucket shape last spring and it did work. *Just make sure your container has a hole for drainage to prevent rotting
Step 2: Add Soil
Add approximately 2 inches of soil in the bottom of your container. If you have a deeper container, you can add more soil to get your tulips at the right depth. However, the minimum should be 2 inches.
Step 3: Add Bulbs
Next, place your bulbs into the container. The bulbs should be very close together, but not touching…similar to eggs in an egg carton. Then cover the bulbs with soil.
Tips: Consider your plant height. Anything much higher than 12-14 inches will flop over in a small container. I made that mistake last spring. I was able to use a wire for support, but shorter heights are better when planting in small containers. Daffodils or hyacinth would be a great option for containers or if you really want tulips, just stick to a shorter variety.
Another tip is to plant all the same type of bulb in each container. This keeps the chilling time and blooming time the same. When planting spring planters for outdoors, you may want a variety. However, for a small container inside it is better to have them all blooming at the same time.
Step 4: Add Bulb Fertilizer
Sprinkle bulb fertilizer on top of your soil and lightly water.
Step 5: Chilling Your Container
Once your container has been planted, filled and fertilized, it is ready to be chilled. The bulbs will need to be between 35 and 45 degrees for the entire chilling period, which is 16-18 weeks. If you live in an area where the temperatures are rarely below 25 degrees, keep your container moist and covered with straw out in a garden. If the temperatures are commonly below 25 degrees, then store your container in an unheated basement or garage. The soil should be kept damp, but not wet.
Tip: Determine when you would like your blooms and plant accordingly…16-18 weeks to chill and then 3-4 weeks to bloom. Put a reminder in your phone, about 3-4 weeks before you want blooms, to bring your containers indoors.
Step 6: Waking Your Bulbs
After 16-18 weeks, bring your bulbs into your basement or another room that is around 60 degrees. The container should be placed in indirect sunlight for two weeks. When the shoots are 3-4 inches high move them into a sunny location. Once the buds have changed color, move your container back to a spot with indirect sun to lengthen the bloom life.
Tip: You will want to rotate your containers a little every day as they are coming up, so the flowers grow straight.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Spring Flowers
The tulips I planted turned yellow and then a beautiful orange color!
Several weeks later, the tulips outside finally caught up.
Want to plant your own spring containers? I have summarized all the steps into one great printable.
In Michigan, snow hangs around a long time and these tulips really brightened up my home. I absolutely loved growing these tulips inside and can not wait to do it again!
Let me know if you have ever grown bulbs inside…I would love to hear about it below.
Thanks for checking out my post.
