In order to revel in colorful tulip blossoms in the middle of winter, the flower bulbs are encouraged to sprout early. The procedure is more straightforward than you might imagine. Read here how you can easily grow tulip bulbs.
How can tulip bulbs be successfully grown?
To get tulip bulbs to sprout early, simulate winter by storing the bulbs in sand or peat moss at 0-8°C for 8-16 weeks. They can then grow in the glass or in the substrate. Place the plants in a bright, warm window seat and the first flowers will appear within a few days.
Simulate winter – How to do it right
So that tulips delight us in the garden with their splendor of color from March/April, they are planted in the ground in October. It is the winter cold stimulus that is essential for flower induction. In order to motivate the flowers to bloom early, they are simply made to believe that they are in winter. There are various methods available for this simulation:
- Start cold treatment in October or November
- Put the tulip bulbs with sand in a plastic bag and place them in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator
- Alternatively, store the flower bulbs in a cool, dark cellar in a wooden box with sand or peat waste
The main premise for successful advance is a temperature level of 0 to 8 degrees Celsius over a period of 8 to 16 weeks.
Producing stratified tulip bulbs in a glass - this is how it works
It is a fascinating spectacle to watch the stratified tulips doing their floral work. Specialist retailers therefore offer glass vases (€26.00 on Amazon) specifically for growing flower bulbs. These have a bulbous lower part that opens up like a bowl with an hourglass-like constriction. This is how you attract the tulip blossoms in the glass:
- Fill the lower part of the vase with soft water
- Place a tulip bulb in the bowl with the tip pointing upwards
- There is a small gap of 5-6 mm between the water level and the onion skins
The distance between the tulip bulb and the water must be such that the root strands reach into the water. However, direct contact with the onions should be avoided to prevent rot from forming. In the bright, warm window seat you can look forward to the first flowers within a few days.
Tip
Tulip bulbs can also be planted in substrate. To do this, a mix of potting soil and sand is poured into a pot that is about twice deeper than the size of the bulb. A piece of clay over the water drain prevents waterlogging. The tulip bulb is planted so deep that the tip is flush with the edge of the pot. Following the cold stimulus, the first flowers will appear on the bright, warm window seat within 5-10 days.
