Tulips and most other bulbs that can grow outside in cold climates need to spend a certain amount of time hybernating in the cold. (Say, 9 to 14 weeks?) They are "programmed" not to bloom until after winter. You could stick the bulbs in a paper bag in the fridge. Not in a pot, just in a paper bag. One warning...if you keep fruit (particularly apples) in the fridge, the ethylene gas is bad for the bulbs. (Those green fruit saving bags absorb ethylene). Don't water them while they are in the fridge...they are supposed to be hibernating to simulate winter.

Alternatively, you could leave them in the garage or plant them in the ground.

You might have better luck with tropical bulbs. They don't need cold. You can buy Amaryllis and Paperwhite Narcissus pretty cheap about now, and neither need to be chilled. I'm not sure, but I think gladiolus also don't need to be chilled. Most Spring bulbs don't.

This post was edited by edlincoln on Tue, Nov 18, 14 at 10:49

Thanks for the reply! Although, if its simulating winter then shouldn't there be water (from the rain)?

Tulips are not the easiest bulbs to grow outdoors and indoors I don't even know if it's possible. Outdoors animals like to eat them and they usually don't flower. If you can plant them now they'd have a good chance of at least a plant coming up in the spring. I don't know if your ground is frozen or not.

thnx cooperDR, I cant plant them in the ground because I live in an apartment so I had to force em in pots.