The following steps are needed when growing pre-chilled and started tulips.

1. LOCATION: Place your pot of tulips in a bright location.

2. WATERING: Make sure the soil remains moist but not over watered. This can be tricky in winter due to the dry indoor air, so try not to place the pot near a furnace vent. If the pot does not have a drainage hole, be sure to water it lightly, as pooled water at the bottom of the pot can cause the bulbs to rot.

3. SAVING: To save these bulbs to plant them outside, you’ll need to cut the blooms off when they’re done blooming and let the leaves continue to grow for 3-4 weeks (continue watering) so they can take in the energy from the sun (this is how the bulb stores enough energy to bloom). After about a month you can cut the leaves off and store the bulb in a cool dark place. Once the ground can be worked in the spring or in the fall later this year, you can plant the tulip outdoors.

   NOTE: If the bulb doesn’t get enough energy it may not bloom the following year. Some varieties (those with large blooms) take 2-3 years to store enough energy to bloom. While the leaves will come back you may not get a bloom next year.