No, it is not quite that simple. Cooling them is part of the process, yes. What it means is that you are actually "coaxing" them into bloom, which is a better way of saying "forcing" really, in a climate similar to one that they need; but which is not present outside. Therefore, you have to falsely give them what they would naturally get in order to see blossoms. In simple summary, you are convincing a spring bulb that it has slept through the winter months and encouraging it to awaken into full spring bloom, even though the snow might be piling up outside your window. You usually apply this treatment to bulbs that you wish to see inside your house in pots.

Many bulbs do not need to be chilled. A lot of daffodils don't. In fact, there are some bulbs you should not chill; tazettas, or paperwhites, being one of them. Dafodils in general don't need temperatures too cold, anyway. Tulips and hyacinths appreciate a lot of cold. Crocus like it cold. You pot them up, put them in a refrigerator at about 40 or so for about 10 to 16 weeks, depending upon their variety. Then you bring them out and gradually adapt them to light and warmth and watering to make them bloom.

Old House Gardens has a good list of bulbs that do well in the South.

Here is a link to help you learn more about forcing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clemson University -Forcing Blooms Indoors

"Forcing" bulbs is the process where WE decide when we want the blooms to appear, as opposed to when mother nature would let them appear. If you live in the deep south, you know that amaryllis bulbs are hardy here and when planted in the ground, will bloom naturally in early summer. Yet, they are commonly given as gifts and brought into bloom in December. The process that makes them bloom in December is called "forcing".

Now, as hopflower said, lots of bulbs NEED a long period of chilltime during winter in order to bloom in the spring (or anytime else, for that matter). That is why they are chilled. Tulips and hyacinths simply won't bloom for us here in the deep south without 2 to 3 months of chill time in the fridge before they are planted. (Because our winters are not cold enough or long enough to do it naturally.)

You are right. You can order bulbs pre-chilled. However, you will pay extra for this service, and if the catalog doesn't specifically say "pre-chilled", you can assume they are not.

So... what does all this mean for you? If you want daffodils, do a little research and find out which ones will blooms well for you in your area without needing to be dug up and chilled every year: there are many. The Southern Living Garden Book has a good list in it, and there are others floating around, as hopflower said.

If you want tulips or hyacinths, buy them now. Put them in the lower part of your refrigerator, but not in the fruit drawer, for 8 to 10 weeks. Then plant them in the ground. It's okay that that is after Christmas. They will then come up and bloom for you when mother nature tells them to. Once bloom is done, pull the tulips up and throw them away. You'll never get them to bloom again, although the leaves might return each year for years. Let the hyacinth leaves turn yellow, cut them off, dig up the bulbs and keep them until next year, when you put them back in the frige and start the whole process over again.

General tips: Let all bulb foliage turn yellow and begin to die before cutting it off or you'll kill the blooms for next year.
Many times daffodils will have a big bulb and then smaller bulbs attached to it at the bottom (sometimes called "noses"). You can break them off and plant them separately. They may or may not bloom the first year, but will come up, make foliage, gain size, and bloom in subsequent years. Or, you can leave them attached, and you may have more than one bloom stalk come out of that same spot in the ground the first year.
If you are planting in clay, loosen the soil with manure, compost, etc. to improve drainage or your bulbs will rot.

If you plant crocus, you need to know that they are a favored food for squirrels who will dig them up and eat them forthwith! (If gardening was easy everyone would do it. :)

Enjoy! Learn! Try new stuff! Look forward to spring!

Thank you so much. I bought a bunch of tulips and daffs from gurneys. I planted them 2 days ago.That was a mistake. I need to dig them up, dry them out and refrigerate them for at least 8 weeks, correct? Then plant them again (anytime after 8 weeks) and they will bloom in the spring. I contacted Gurneys today and that's what they recommend. Do you agree? I really hate to spend all this money and not have a bloom to enjoy in the spring.

You bet. You haven't done any harm, and think of all the calories you burned! :)