Tulips Grown in a Glass Vase: "Tulips to be" in a wide glass vase, with a dozen or so bare tulip bulbs in the bottom. There is a little "grate" in the bottom of the vase. You simply put water in the bottom, & the bulbs sprout roots, which anchor themselves through the grate, then come leaves, then, in about 3 or 4 weeks, you have flowers!