Expert: Long Island Gardener - 1/17/2008

Question
I have a vase with plastic tray for tulips that I saved from Costco last year.  I purchased some tulip bulbs from Europe in Dec. and have kept them in my refrig.  I live in Cairo, Egypt, but the weather right now is chilly and sunny (~50-65 degrees F during the day, ~40-55 degrees F at night) I would like to force the bulbs in the vase in a sunny window but would like to know the appropriate steps to ensure the lovely results.

Answer
I'm not exactly sure I understand your setup, Louise, but I don't want to delay this any further, so I'll give you what I think will be enough to work with.

Spring bulb containers should have drainage holes at the bottom to keep the bulbs from rotting, yet be light enough to lug around in the spring at the first signs of life.

You need a place that is not going to be heated, but it won't be frozen.  And it should ideally be a place that you don't mind getting muddy water splashed around a bit when needed.  Your chilly temps in the low 40s would be ideal; above 50 degrees F is LESS than ideal; and temps in the 60s is OUT OF THE QUESTION.  A refrigerator might be your answer.

Water, but just enough to keep the pot barely moist.  The roots will be forming throughout the Winter.

This is a very tricky exercise, mind you.  Pick up a maximum/minimum thermometer at your local garden center, or whatever it is you have in Egypt, maybe on the internet, and keep it with your pot so you know what kind of temperatures it's exposed to.  They should never read over 53 or 54 degrees F.

I have had varying success with this process in a special refrigerator.  Usually the bulbs sustain a certain amount of damage from lack of Oxygen.  In times like these, it's good to be able to buy yourself a greenhouse.  Some things just work better that way.

Give it a try.  Maybe you'll come up with a technique that works with what you have access to.

Any questions?