October is the time of the year to begin potting your favorite spring bulbs to prepare them for winter flowering. A pot of tulips on the window sill in February can make a winter-worn gardener renew the desire to survive the winter. First, only top quality, good-sized bulbs should be used. Your neighborhood greenhouse operator will tell you the varieties that are best suited for forcing. Don't mix varieties in the same container, since they vary in their dates of flowering.
Planting Begin by potting the bulbs in clean, sterile clay or plastic pots.
Do not bury the bulbs. Don't worry about soil fertility or feeding bulbs because they have enough stored food to flower one time. Plant the bulbs close together in the pot. The flat side of the tulip bulb should be placed next to the rim of the pot since the largest leaf will always emerge and grow on that side, producing a more desirable looking pot. It's extremely important that bulbs be handled with care at all times.