It seems like magic when a magnificent flower rises from tulip bulbs in the vase. Without the substrate blocking your view, you can experience a floral wonder up close in the middle of winter. The following instructions explain practically how to bring tulips to life in a glass jar.
Tulip bulbs also thrive in water
Suitable tulips - tips on varieties
Not all tulips thrive with bulbs in the vase. The choice of suitable varieties makes an important contribution to making the effort for flowering outside the natural season worthwhile. The following selection presents proven tulips for forcing:
- Single Flowers: Duc van Tol (red), Belle Lisette (white), Yellow Emperor (yellow), Bride of Harlem (white-red)
- Double flowers: Tournesol (red), Murillo (pink), Sweetheard (yellow), Turban (dark purple)
It is the early flowering tulips in particular that will give you a lot of pleasure in the vase with bulbs. The late beauties, such as viridiflora tulips or parrot tulips, are less suitable.
The perfect glass
Tulip bulbs can only be motivated to flower in winter if they are not in direct contact with water. Therefore, keep an eye out for a vase with these attributes:
- In the upper part, the glass is designed in the shape of a bowl, big enough for tulip bulbs
- Below, the vase narrows, like an hourglass
- This is followed by a bulbous area in which the root strands find space in the water
These proportions ensure that enough water is transported into the bulb via the root system. At the same time, rot doesn't stand a chance, as the outer shells of the tulip bulbs remain dry.
This is how the tulip blooms get going
In November, the starting signal for the tulip forcing will be given. Pour boiled water into the vase. Then place the tulip bulb in the bowl so that there is a maximum distance of 5 mm between the water and the bulb. For a period of 8 to 12 weeks, place the jar in a dark room with a temperature of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius. If the water level drops, please fill up with fresh water.
Then bring the vase into the room to set it up on the bright, warm window sill. Now that a vital root system has formed, a stalk will sprout within a short time to produce the longed-for flower.
tips
Repeated skin contact with the toxic plant sap can trigger tulip dermatitis. Always wear protective gloves when approaching tulip bulbs, leaves and stems.