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The right conditions for potted, planted, and cut tulips
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Nothing says spring quite like a blooming tulip. Luckily for you, they’re pretty easy to grow! Here, we’ll cover everything about tulip care from planting bulbs in the ground or in pots to providing the right conditions so your flowers come back year after year. We'll even share how to make tulip blooms last after you’ve snipped them and stuck them in a vase. Ready for gorgeous flowers? Let’s get started.
Things You Should Know
| Plant Name | Tulip ( Tulipa ) |
|---|---|
| Sun Exposure | Full |
| Soil Type | Rich, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Acidic or neutral |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA: 3–8 |
Steps
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Choose perennial tulips if you want them to come back. Both the type of tulip and the way you care for it determine whether you’ll have an annual or perennial plant. Annuals only last 1 year and need to be replanted each fall. Perennials will come back year after year and spread through your yard or garden. Here are the varieties that are the most likely to come back with the least amount of effort from you: [1] X Research source
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Plant your tulips in the fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before winter. [2] X Expert Source Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 2 June 2020. Tulip bulbs are best planted in September or October in the northern climates and October or November in the southern climates. [3] X Trustworthy Source Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University's Extension and Outreach program dedicated to educating and engaging communities Go to source The warmer your climate, the later you plant them. Get the bulbs in the ground or pots when the soil temperature is below 60°F (15°C). The tulips will develop strong roots over the winter, allowing them to bloom beautifully in spring.- Choose large, strong bulbs that are free from mold. [4]
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Expert Source
Ben Barkan
Professional Gardener Expert Interview. 14 April 2020. - You can keep tulip bulbs in your refrigerator (or some other cool, dry location) for about 2 months before planting season if you buy them in summer. However, do not store them next to apples, as they give off ethylene, destroying the bulb.
- Most bulbs need 12-14 weeks of a "cold period" to bring about beautiful bulbs come spring. Do not buy bulbs after December 1st unless they've been "pre-cooled."
Advertisement - Choose large, strong bulbs that are free from mold. [4]
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Expert Source
Ben Barkan
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Choose an area that receives partial to full sun. Pick a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to ensure your tulips will thrive. This is especially important for perennials. [5] X Trustworthy Source Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University's Extension and Outreach program dedicated to educating and engaging communities Go to source
- Select a spot away from large trees so the flowers don’t have to compete with the roots for nutrients. [6]
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Expert Source
Ben Barkan
Professional Gardener Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.
- Select a spot away from large trees so the flowers don’t have to compete with the roots for nutrients. [6]
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Expert Source
Ben Barkan
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Pick a spot with sandy, well-drained soil. Amend your soil as needed to ensure it’s well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic, and fertile. [7] X Trustworthy Source Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University's Extension and Outreach program dedicated to educating and engaging communities Go to source Wet soil will ruin tulips. Improve drainage by adding shredded pine bark or even sand to the area.
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Loosen the soil. Before planting the tulip bulbs, use a planting fork or tiller to loosen the soil. Dig down in the soil 12 to 15 inches (30.5 to 38.1 cm). Then, mix 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of organic matter, like compost or peat moss , into the soil. [8] X Research source
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Plant tulip bulbs 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) apart. Give each bulb plenty of space to grow sufficiently, otherwise, they’ll encroach on each other's nutrients. [11] X Trustworthy Source Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Iowa State University's Extension and Outreach program dedicated to educating and engaging communities Go to source Plant each bulb pointy end up. Fill the hole with soil and press the dirt into place firmly.
- Tulips rapidly multiply when left in the ground. Even if you only plant a few, in a couple of years, you'll have a whole family.
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Water your tulips. Right after planting, water them thoroughly to trigger growth. This will likely be one of the few times you actually have to water tulips unless you live in a very dry climate. [12] X Research source
- Do not water them again until you see leaves. Then, give them a light sprinkling.
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Apply mulch if you live in a cold climate. After planting your tulip bulbs, cover them with a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) layer of shredded bark or straw to protect the bulbs from frost and retain moisture. [13] X Research source If you often have rodents or animals in your garden, erect a cage or fence around the bulbs. Or, put thorny leaves or gravel in with the soil to deter pests.
- Adding mulch is the only thing you need to do to overwinter tulips—they’re hardy enough to survive during the cold months.
- If you're planting perennials, feed them every year to start them going again. Use organic material, compost, or a balanced time-release bulb food every fall to start the process.
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Plant tulips in pots in the fall to get winter blooms. Choose a 6 in (15 cm) pot with multiple drainage holes. Fill it about one-third full of well-draining potting soil , and place about 6 tulips bulbs pointy-end-up in the pot. Cover them loosely with soil so they’re about 4 inches (10 cm) deep and then water thoroughly. [14] X Research source
- Place your potted tulips somewhere with a temperature between 35 to 48 °F (2 to 9 °C) for about 12 weeks, like a basement, cellar, or even your refrigerator.
- Bring your pots out of the cold after 3 months and place them in cool, but sunny, windows. They’ll bloom after 3-4 weeks.
- This process is known as forcing blooms, and potted tulips will only flower once. Once the foliage is wilted and yellow, dig up the bulb and discard it.
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Water developing tulips only during a dry spell. If it hasn't rained in a few weeks in your area, give your tulips a dusting of water. Generally, though, you don’t need to water tulips so long as you receive 0.67 inches (1.7 cm) or more of rainfall per week. [15] X Research source
- Don’t allow your tulips to remain in standing water. If there has been an excess of rain in your area, drain out any extra water from the area if you can. Or, add some shredded bark or sand to the area around your tulips to help keep them dry.
- If you notice that the area you planted your tulips in collects water, you'll likely be better off moving the plant to a drier area. Dig them up taking the surrounding soil with you and find an area that rain falls on, but can drain out of.
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Fertilize your tulips at the beginning of spring. Fertilize your tulips once at the beginning of spring for continuous growth. [16] X Expert Source Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 2 June 2020. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of high-nitrogen fertilizer (30-0-0) into the soil around your tulips. [17] X Research source- Tulips are pretty easy in the scheme of things. If you're dealing with annuals, they may not need fertilizer at all. In the right climate, you can plant your tulips and essentially forget about them, no watering or fertilization necessary.
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Expect tulips to bloom in mid to late spring. When your tulips will flower depends on the specific variety you have, but generally, tulips are spring-blooming flowers. [18] X Research source
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Check for pests and diseases. Blight (or Tulip Fire) creates brown specks on the leaves and turns the flower grey in color. If any of your bulbs are diseased, dig them up and throw them away to prevent the blight from spreading to other tulips. If only part of the plant is damaged, cut it off to see if you can salvage the plant. [19] X Research source
- Provide proper care for your tulips to prevent diseases. Make sure they get a modicum of moisture, a little bit of shade, and are planted in decent, slightly acidic soil.
- If aphids become a problem, spray them off the plants with water.
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Cut tulips at a diagonal to display in vases. If you want to create a beautiful bouquet or centerpiece, use sharp, clean shears to cut the stems from the plant at a diagonal angle. Then, wrap the top two-thirds of the flower stems in newspaper to keep them straight and put them in a bucket of cool water. After 12-18 hours, re-cut the stems and display them in a vase. [20] X Research source
- To care for fresh-cut tulips , trim the stems, replace the water, and add a little flower food each day to prolong the life of your tulips.
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Deadhead and prune your tulips if you’re growing perennials. Remove the spent blooms to prevent the tulips from going to seed if you want them to come back the following year. [21] X Research source Use shears to cut off the flower head once it’s spent. Wait about 6 weeks, until the foliage yellows, to cut the plant back to ground level. It needs this time to build up energy in order to flower the following season. [22] X Research source
- If you want your tulips to spread, allow them to "naturalize" or go to seed so that more will come back the following year.
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Dig up the bulbs after blooming if you’re growing annuals. Some gardeners prefer to treat tulips as annuals and replant them each fall. Generally, annuals have more vibrant blooms. Once all the tulips have bloomed and died, dispose of the entire plant from bulb to tip. [23] X Research source
- Many farmers and gardening enthusiasts prefer annuals when it comes to tulips. They're easy to grow, cheap, and can easily be replanted. They can grow more for the next year and experiment with different varieties if they so choose.
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Plant fresh tulips if yours stop flowering. Even though many tulip varieties are perennials, they won’t keep blooming forever. If yours are only producing leaves instead of blooms, it’s time to dig them up and discard them. In the fall, plant fresh tulip bulbs in well-draining soil and provide them with plenty of sunlight. [24] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo you need to deadhead tulips?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.Deadheading tulips isn't a must, but it does help make the flower bed look tidier.
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QuestionHow do you keep cut tulips from drooping?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.Cut the stem about an inch above the current cut and remove all the leaves under the rim of the vase.
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QuestionWhat do you do with tulips after they are done blooming?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.After the tulips are done blooming, deadhead them with a pair of shears just below the spent bloom.
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Tips
- If critters try to dig up your bulbs, place some hardware cloth down in the area to keep them out. [25] X Expert Source Ben Barkan
Garden & Landscape Designer Expert Interview. 2 June 2020.Thanks - Dig up bulbs after the leaves and stem have browned to acquire more tulip bulbs for planting in other areas.Thanks
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Warnings
- Be cautious about fertilizing tulips immediately after flowering. Doing so can increase the chance of disease.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/bulbs/top-perennial-tulips/#page=2
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Garden & Landscape Designer. Expert Interview. 2 June 2020.
- ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-planting-tulips-and-flowering-bulbs-fall
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Professional Gardener. Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-planting-tulips-and-flowering-bulbs-fall
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Professional Gardener. Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-planting-tulips-and-flowering-bulbs-fall
- ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/flowers/bulbs
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tulipa/
- ↑ https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/flowers/how-to-plant-tulips.html
- ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-planting-tulips-and-flowering-bulbs-fall
- ↑ https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1301/Planting-Tulips/
- ↑ https://extension.sdstate.edu/tulips-bring-early-season-color-garden-each-year
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/growing-bulbs-indoors
- ↑ https://peppershomeandgarden.com/how-much-water-tulips-need/
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Garden & Landscape Designer. Expert Interview. 2 June 2020.
- ↑ https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/flowers/how-to-plant-tulips.html
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tulipa/
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/production-tulips-cut-flowers
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/bulbs/how-and-when-do-i-cut-tulips-to-put-them-in-a-vase/
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tulipa/
- ↑ https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/flowers/how-to-plant-tulips.html
- ↑ https://extension.sdstate.edu/tulips-bring-early-season-color-garden-each-year
- ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/my-tulips-are-no-longer-blooming-why
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Garden & Landscape Designer. Expert Interview. 2 June 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
Store tulip bulbs in the refrigerator for up to 2 months and plant in the fall in holes about 3 times their height. Water the bulbs right after you plant, then wait until their leaves sprout to give them another light sprinkling—that’s it! Place 1 spoonful of flower fertilizer around each bulb at the beginning of fall and spring. After your tulips bloom, throw away any flowers with signs of blight, like brown speckled leaves or gray flowers. Then, when the flowers are spent, cut off the flower head to prevent wilting, removing the leaves and stems once they turn yellow. To learn more from our Horticulturist co-author, such as where in your yard is the best to plant tulips, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My wife told me that after the flower is done blooming, you cut the tulip off at the ground. After reading this article, I realize that she's wrong again. I will cut off the flowers and leave them for six weeks, and then cut them off even with the ground. Thank you for sharing this valuable knowledge. Three hundred tulips in my front yard that look gorgeous this spring, and hopefully better next year. " ..." more
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"My wife told me that after the flower is done blooming, you cut the tulip off at the ground. After reading this article, I realize that she's wrong again. I will cut off the flowers and leave them for six weeks, and then cut them off even with the ground. Thank you for sharing this valuable knowledge. Three hundred tulips in my front yard that look gorgeous this spring, and hopefully better next year. "
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"The only thing I remembered about tulips (from childhood days) is they were a one time bloomer. I received a pot of several bulbs blooming and when my husband saw the blooms looking so tired, worn out and dead looking he accused me of overwatering. I explained what little I knew so he insisted on looking up growing and caring for tulip plants. Thank you for your help."
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"The only thing I remembered about tulips is that they were a on-time bloomer. I received a pot of several bulbs blooming and when my husband saw the blooms looking so tired, worn out, and dead-looking he accused me of over-watering. I explained what little I knew, so he insisted on looking up growing and caring for Tulip plants. Thank you for your help."
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"Excellent step-by-step for beginners on what to do when planting tulips. I did not know there are annuals and perennials in tulips. Have no idea what mine are so will find out next year. Have saved this to my reading list on my phone!"
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"I don't have a green thumb, and most of my gardening experience has ended in disasters. I found this article helpful, as it is simple to understand and covers all aspects of cultivating tulips."
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