
You know how your electronic devices lose battery power even when "sleeping"; well, the same happens to bulbs. If the bulbs are papery, their energy stores have dried out and they are gone. Soft bulbs are gone. Bulbs with some firmness that are free of mold can be planted in fall. They may benefit from soaking in warm water for a couple of hours prior to planting if they seem partially shrunken. They will probably need a year of not blooming to recharge the bulb's energy. Meanwhile store them in barely damp peat moss or vermiculite in a cool, dark place. I use a cardboard box like a shoe box. Plastic will lead to rot. Good luck.