Long live the tulip! This brightly colored jewel brightens our days in early spring. We truly look forward to seeing those blue-green leaves start to emerge as the Earth awakens from its winter sleep! Here are our tips on how to plant and care for tulips.
About Tulips
Tulips normally begin emerging from the ground in late winter or early spring. If mild winter weather causes premature growth, the danger is not as great as it may seem. Tulips (and daffodils) have braved these cold temperatures before and are quite tolerant. If winter temperatures return, it may delay growth. The snow is helpful, discouraging additional growth and protecting the foliage from extreme cold.
Plant in the Fall for Spring Blooms
Tulip bulbs are planted in the autumn before the ground freezes. By planting varieties with different bloom times, you can have tulips blooming from early to late spring. Some types are good for forcing into bloom indoors and most are excellent for use as cut flowers, too.
Tulip flowers are usually cup-shaped with three petals and three sepals. There’s a tulip for every setting, from small “species” tulips in naturalized woodland areas to larger tulips that fit formal garden plantings from beds to borders. The upright flowers may be single or double, and vary in shape from simple cups, bowls, and goblets to more complex forms. Height ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet. One tulip grows on each stem, with two to six broad leaves per plant.
Are Tulips Annual or Perennial Bulbs?
Although tulips are a perennial from a botanical perspective, many centuries of hybridizing means that the bulb’s ability to come back year after year has weakened. Therefore, many gardeners treat them as annuals, planting new bulbs every autumn. The North American climate and soil can’t replicate the ancient Anatolian and southern Russian conditions of their birth. Gardeners in the western mountain region of the U.S. come closest to this climate, and may have more success perennializing their tulips.
Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Tulips in mulch
How would I go about planting bulbs in a 7” deep wood chip mulch?
planting tulip bulbs in wood chip mulch
The tulip bulb package should specify the planting depth for the tulip bulbs. Don’t plant into the mulch directly. Dig a hole for each bulb, add a double handful of potting medium and plant the bulb in the soil at the right depth, then cover back up with the wood chip mulch and level it out.
Tulips
My son gave me a pot of tulips. When can I plant them in the ground?
potted tulips
Potted tulips given in winter or early spring are likely forced (made to bloom earlier than they would normally) for a seasonal display indoors. These are usually treated as annuals (tossed after blooms are spent), and many won’t flower again next year. However, some types of tulips, such as Darwin or species tulips, do better about transplanting/reblooming, so you can certainly try an experiment to see what happens. It is possible to plant forced tulip bulbs outdoors, although they may not bloom until the second or third year after you plant them, if at all, and the blooms might be smaller. Some tulips just naturally only produce blooms for 1 or 2 years.
To try and plant a bulb outdoors for future blooms, you’ll need to give the bulb lots of TLC, including good light, enough water (but not too much), and proper fertilizer. First set the potted tulip in a sunny, cool spot. Care as you would normally, including water and fertilizer, while it is blooming. Wait until the flowers have faded, then cut off the flower stalk. This will help the plant to focus on making food (via its leaves) rather than on creating seeds. As the leaves start to turn yellow, stop fertilizing and gradually cut back on watering until the leaves turn brown and brittle.
At this point, especially if it is still springtime, you can plant the bulbs outdoors. Or, you can wait until fall. If you choose to plant in fall, cut off the dried foliage. Then you can either keep the bulbs in the pot, or dig up the bulbs and let them sit in a dry place for 1 to 2 weeks and then store them in a brown paper bag. Place the pot or the bag with bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place until fall. About 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected hard fall frost, you can then plant the bulbs outside.
end of season
my tulips bloom time has ended and the petals are falling off what do I do with the bulbs?
Tulips didn't come up
I put my tulips in the ground fall of 2018 and they came up beautifly last spring. So that the bed would have color during the summer I spread moss roses seeds which grew and covered the bed the way I wanted. The trouble is none of my tulips came up this year. Should they not have anything planted over them during the summer? Thank you
tulips not coming up in second year
Tulips may not make an appearance the second year for several reasons. Some varieties, such as the Darwin types or species tulips, are better at getting established and coming back each year (look for the words “naturalizing” or “perennializing” in descriptions), whereas others can be fussy. Be sure that you have good drainage, soil nutrients, and adequate water (but not soggy). A low-nitrogen bulb fertilizer each fall helps the plants to get ready for next year. If you live in a mild climate, the bulbs may not receive enough cold temperatures over winter to enable them to break dormancy next year (in which case you can treat them as annuals or dig the bulbs up and store in the refrigerator for 3 months over winter, packed in slightly moist peat moss or similar and sealed in a plastic bag). Sometimes, too, animals or disease may attack the bulbs. Ideally, tulips like their own space. If you do plant them with other plants, shallow-rooted annuals are best–which makes moss rose (portulaca) a great choice. Also, moss rose would not require lots of water (which would make the tulips unhappy). Each year, allow the tulip leaves to brown and fall off on their own–do not remove them after the blooms are gone while they are still green, as the leaves will make food for the bulb to help it to get through winter and have enough energy for blossoms in spring. Hope this helps!
Tulips
Husband gave me tulips in a pot. The flowers are done and the bulbs are still in the pot. Will they come back? How do I get them to grow again? Still to cold to put them outside
Mulch on bulbs
How deep can mulch be on tulip bulbs?
Mulching Tulips
One to two inches of mulch will do, but refrain from applying it until after the ground has already frozen. This is done to prevent the soil from retaining warmth, which could inadvertently encourage the tulips to emerge far too early.
tulip bulbs top of soil after blooming
I noticed tulip bulbs lying on top of the ground when I went out to pick up the dead leaves after blooming this spring. Did the bulbs actually work themselves out of the ground. Were they originally not planted deep enough. They were in a flower bed on property we bought last year. Please advise. Thank you.
exposed tulip bulbs
If you are in an area with frost heaves, it is possible that the bulbs may have been pushed up, especially if they were planted at shallower depths. If the area had any heavy rain, erosion may have taken away some of the soil on top, or the bulbs sitting in muddy water might rise to the surface. Also, were there any signs of digging? Animals such as squirrels may sometimes dig up bulbs. Tulips may form offsets in spring–if these bulbs look tinier than normal, it could be that these detached from the mother bulb due to heavy rain, frost heaving, etc. and rose to the surface. Hope this helps!
Tulips
I planted bulbs in October and have green leaves nut no tulips. What happened?
tulip leaves but no flowers
It could be that the bulbs are in too shady a spot, or one that is too soggy. Older bulbs sometimes run down until they don’t flower much any more, but since you just planted yours last fall, that’s likely not the reason. Make sure that the bulbs have enough nutrients, but don’t add too much nitrogen, which can encourage leaf formation over flowering. A damaged bulb, such as caused by a hungry rodent, may also leaf out a bit but not flower. A diseased or weak bulb may perform the same way. If flowers do eventually show, after the display, allow the leaves to fade and brown naturally; if you cut them off while they are still green, then the bulb can not make food for next year, which weakens the bulb and discourages flowering next season.
I made a mistake with my tulips
I just read that one shouldn’t cut the foliage after the tulips and daffodils have bloomed but I did because they were so unsightly to me. I cut all of the greenery down to about 1 inch. Do I have a chance of the tulips and or the daffodils returning? Also would like to know as my amaryllis are beginning to bloom. Thanks
tulip after care
You are correct; the foliage of tulips and daffs should be left to yellow. Since you did cut down the foliage, it is not likely that the plants will return to optimal display/condition. You may see some limp growth next year.
If you find the foliage unsightly, fill the space with other same time or later-blooming plants as visual distractions. Bleeding hearts is a good one; they bloom with tulips but last longer. Meantime, day lily foliage starts up with great thickness.
Will tulips grow in my zone
Hello I am in zone 9a Las Vegas, Nevada and I just got a beautiful tulip plant as a birthday gift. I would love to plant this in my new garden but I am afraid of the extreme heat coming in the summer time that it would be best to grow in the house. Can they grow well in Las Vegas?
Tulips in Vegas
What grows in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas. Tulips need a natural chill period, so unless you are in the mountains, it is highly unlikely to last. There are people who chill the bulbs in the fridge; note that there are no guarantees. To try it, let the foliage die back naturally, unearth the bulb, brush off the soil, and put it in the fridge away from food for a few months. Plant in spring when temps warm, in the same pot/soil, if desired. Water regularly. It’s a long shot to success. Most people would suggest that you enjoy the plant now, appreciate the giver, … and toss the remains into the compost.
Tunics removed
We've had a lot of rain this spring (3rd yr in a row!) and abt a dozen pink tulip bulbs were on the verge of going bad and their tunics were loose and cracked. Since I was going to over winter them, I removed the tunics to avoid a place for mold/fungus to grow (I do use powdered sulfur). Also, some of the basal plates pulled off as well. Are these bulbs worth packing away for winter or w/out the tunics and basal plates, they're a lost cause? Thanks
Transplanting ground Tulip plants
I am in zone 5, East central Illinois. I have read as much information as I can find in hopes of answering my questions to no avail. We have preplanted Tulips on the property line between two homes. Unfortunately, these Tulips are usually under rain water for most of the spring and summer months. Each spring, there are fewer flowers blooming. I would Love information on how to care for them before mowing starts here. Because the leaves are always mowed off before dying. Is there any chance of saving the bulbs before they disappear? Thank you for assistance.
Bulbs in water
Hi Ruthann, You’re right. Tulips won’t fare well in areas that are poorly drained or that collect water. Wet soil is a killer for all bulbs. They will get root rot and fail. Cool, soggy conditions and extended periods of wet weather favor infection.
In the fall, we’d suggest planting new bulbs in a planting site that is prepared so it will be well drained. Most bulbs love moisture but hate constantly wet soils. Find the biggest, best-quality bulbs. Ensure a site that is not shady and has 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day. Plant at the proper depth and encourage good air circulation by spacing correctly.
It’s not uncommon for us to hear that a spouse got tired of mowing around the tulips. However, if the cut the leaves off before they yellow and die back naturally, you won’t have blooms the following year. Bulbs need the leaves after bloom to produce food for the bulb for next year. Once the leaves yellow, they may be removed. It is ok if you want to braid, rubber band or otherwise tie the leaves. It’s certainly better than removing the leaves completely.
If you want to move some spring-blooming bulbs to another spot, wait until the foliage has turned yellow, then carefully dig them up and let them dry in a shady spot for a few days. Store the bulbs in a cool, dry place for the summer until it’s time to plant them in fall. Keep in mind that tulips, unless planted quite deep or noted as “perennial”, are generally grown as annuals. So, we’d probably just plant some new bulbs.
bulbs under water
Wet soil is a killer for all bulbs. They will get root rot and fail. Cool, soggy conditions and extended periods of wet weather favor infection. In the fall, we’d suggest planting new bulbs in a planting site that is prepared so it will be well drained. You could try to unearth the existing bulbs but over the time described they may have been diminishing in quality/strength. Best advice: start over, as per above.
tulips
i just bought tulip bulbs. can i start the bulb inside in April and plant them in the ground in later may We still has approximately -10 weather in the nighttime until end of may
plant now?
Blubs are fine with the cold, but they do not transplant well. Best bet is to plant in early fall for blooms in spring 2020—unless something on the packaging indicates somethign else.
Tulip Bulbs
I've just been on holiday to Amsterdam & have bought bulbs for myself and friends. Should I plant them now or wait for the autumn, please? Do I plant them straight into the garden & what precautions should I take? I've a sunny corner of my English garden earmarked for them and going by previous comments would be wise to add sand round them as the soil is rather heavy.
Lee of House
I have tulip bulbs that a friend sent me last November, but I never got around to planting them. The inside temperature of my house ranges from 65-70 degrees F. Are these bulbs still viable?
Assuming the answer is yes, I’d like to put these in the northeastern lee of the house - it gets good morning/early afternoon sun, then plenty of shade. Does this sound like a good place for these bulbs? I live in north Florida; not sure if I’m zone 7 or 8.
If these bulbs are not viable, what can I do with them?
viable bulbs?
It’s not possible to know from here if the bulbs are viable. If they are still firm, not papery or mushy, they may still have life in them and if that’s the case, try them. That spot sounds as good as any. However, one alternative might be a pot, in which case, you could maybe move it into or out of sun, as needed. But better to try them than to wonder.
Tulip
Are tulip can survive in New Mexico soil? I would like to try to plan tulips.
Tulips in New Mexico
We’re not familiar with the soil in New Mexico, so we would recommend contacting your state’s Cooperative Extension service for local advice! Chances are, you’ll need to add some additional soil to the planting site, but it really depends on your local soil conditions. Soil aside, tulips should do fine in all but the most hot and arid areas of the state.
wedding
got a wedding 1st week of June. looking to plants some pots for the garden party. when would i plants bulbs, so they flowered in time xx
Pages