Tulip 101

so I have the bulbs... and I'm going to try a few! lol (fl) so what is the best soil... temp... we are cooling down ... so I hope they will work!

I have had them in a cooler for 8 weeks...

Noell... you are brave. : ) Tulips in Flordia. You need to put them in the hsadest place you can find. Probably best to ring them around a tree that will provide some shade. Not sure how hot your still gonna get, puttign them out in the full sun may still be too hot for them and melt the foliage.

A suggestion, plant several bulbs in 6" or 8" pots. Bury the whole pot. After they bloom and the foliage has died back, dig up your pots and place back in the fridge for another 8 weeks to chill and then you can bring them back out to bloom again. After that I would recommend getting new bulbs.

Plantign tulip bulbs here is just about a yearly buy thing. They just don't do well from the heat even with the shade. I generally buy the ones on sale, that way it not so expensive.

You may want to consider, pottign them up and letting sit around in yoru house to bloom in a sunny , by not too hot spot, and enjoying them that way, then chill them again for rebloom.

I honestly beleive that sun is best for tulips to build proper replacement bulbs, even living in a place (Western CO) that averages 60% higher sun strength. ( Due to high altitude, thin atmostphere, much less cloudcover).
For anyone else who s not forcing their bulbs in the south and treating them as growing cut-flowers, definately put your tulips in the sun.

But because yours are not going to be perennial, very bright shade should produce some decent looking plants. Heat is different, and in Florida in winter, it can't be that bad. Heat can easily be managed with proper water and mulch.
My suggestion is pots, since they are not permanent. Well-draining soiless mix. Burying the pot as Starlight suggests can be very good for keeping the roots cool. A pot exposed to the sun will cook the roots and even destroy temporary plants.

Go for it- an experiment's results are not know until it is actually done. Be sure to post your results.
K. James.