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You can use other containers, it does not need to be a clear vase.

The clear containers simply offer the chance to see the beauty of the bulb.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/forcing-bulbs.htm

Hello and thank you for sending your question to us here at Gardening Know How. I was brought up in the gardens by my grandparents and parents, plus I am now in my 60's and have used bone meal for years. I have never had any issues with using it in my gardens and rose beds. I have used super phosphate in my rosebush planting holes and like to put two or three tablespoons of the super phosphate around my rosebushes in the fall to help them over winter well. There have been back and forth articles about which is better bone meal or super phosphate over the years. I have yet to notice any difference between them in my gardens. I prefer to work either one into the soils well when I put them down, especially the bone meal as it does seem to attract the digging dogs, squirrels and some rodents if not worked in well and then watered in well.

What bulbs are you planting?

Though there may be exceptions--No, bulbs should not need to be soaked. This can lead to bulb rot and fungus.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/tips-for-adding-bulbs-to-your-flower-garden.htm

Depending on what kind of bulbs they are, whether the roots are up or down can be less of an issue than the care they received before they were planted. Some bulbs require a period of dormancy before being planted, some are more picky about temperature....A general rule of thumb is that the more "pointy" end should be up and the directions on the packaging or from your local nursery should be followed. This article may also help you:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/tips-for-adding-bulbs-to-your-flower-garden.htm

just happened to find this site this am. I find if you store bulbs ( or tubers, corms)they'll naturally start to sprout as spring approaches ( I just keep them in a paper bag after I've dried & cleaned off all excess soil & they sprout in the bag)If you don't plant them & give them a chance to grow they'll die. If necessary just put them into a pot with some soil until they get some growth &/or be put in the ground. Hope this helps

Dried leaves should ideally be run over by a mower or shredded before use as mulch. Otherwise they may mat down, preventing good air exchange and water penetration. Bulbs don't need mulching if planted at the correct depth. Your bigger worry is squirrels who dig up your nicely planted bulb to put their acorn in its place. Any recently worked soil is fair game. Try planting just a few bulbs one day and see if they get dug up. If so, you have options such as laying/staking hardware cloth over the area and under the mulch. Since it is the newly worked soil and not the bulb that attracts squirrels (and who knows what other critters), you'll need to use the wire cloth just this winter. Next spring, watch for bunnies and deer - both voracious eaters of new spring bulb growth.