The start of spring means beautiful flowers, especially colorful tulips, bursting into bloom everywhere from gardens and parks to florists and grocery stores. If you want to enjoy peak tulip season or prepare for next year's harvest, follow these guidelines for caring for tulips in vases, pots, or in the ground.
Tulip bouquet
1. Choose the right vase.
“A good rule of thumb is to choose a vase that covers at least half the height of the tulip stems,” says Callie Bladow, former production director at on-demand flower service BloomThat (acquired by FTD Florist in 2018). “Tulips love to stretch, and it's common for them to grow more than two inches in height while displayed in a vase, so it's best to let them stay stretched in the vase and make sure the flowers don't overlap, which will prevent the petals from falling off.”
2. Cut the stem at a 45 degree angle.
When cutting tulip stems, keep in mind that your tulips will continue to grow after they're in the vase. Bradeau recommends first holding the bouquet next to the vase before cutting to make sure your flowers are at the length you want. “Cutting them at an angle (45-degree angle) creates a 'straw effect' that allows the stems to soak up fresh water,” she says.
3. Provide plenty of water.
“Tulips love water,” says Bradow. “Cold, fresh water is best. Once you bring your tulips home and choose your favorite vase, fill it about three-quarters full with water, as tulips drink a lot. I recommend changing the water and cutting the stems every other day.” You can also add flower food, or half a teaspoon of lemon juice or regular cane sugar to keep your flowers healthy.
4.Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight.
Tulips are “photosensitive,” meaning they depend on sunlight to grow and bloom, so keep your vase out of direct sunlight and heat. Once the flowers bloom, they will die quickly. “For maximum vase life, buy tulips in the 'early' or 'closed' cut stage,” says Bradow. “Once tulips reach the 'blooming' stage, they will have limited vase life.” As tulips “reach” toward the sunlight, it's natural for the stems to bend a little, but they shouldn't look “droopy.”
5. Choose carefully when adding other flowers.
If you want to include other flowers in your arrangement, keep in mind that tulips are very sensitive to other flowers. “Some common flowers that can affect the tulip's life cycle are daffodils and daffodils, which give off substances that cause the tulip to die more quickly,” she says. “You can put tulips in a floral arrangement with roses, kale, and hydrangeas without any problems.”
Tulips in the flowerbed
1. Plant in fall or winter.
“The best time to plant tulips depends mainly on where you live,” says gardening lifestyle expert Carmen Johnston. “If you live in the north, you can start planting from the end of September, but in the south, you'll want to wait until December. Before you plant, make sure you know where you're going to be planting. The general rule is to plant six to eight weeks before the ground freezes.”
2. Dig a suitable sized hole and plant it.
To make planting easier, Johnston recommends using a drill with bulb holes. Dig holes about three times the size of the tulip bulbs and plant the bulbs (pointy side up) 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Plant in sandy, well-drained soil. And, “If you have a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, tulips will thrive there,” Johnston says.
3. Cover with mulch in the off-season.
Johnston recommends covering the bulbs with 1 to 2 inches of mulch and giving perennial bulbs a slow-release bulb fertilizer in the fall. “Tulips are standalone flowers, and the bulbs will take care of most of their own maintenance,” he says. “However, if you want to give your bulbs an extra boost, try giving them one liquid fertilizer three to four weeks after planting and then again in early spring.”
4. Water sparingly.
Tulips don't need much water; Johnston recommends watering them thoroughly once after planting and then again when the green leaves begin to sprout.
5. Clean up after the flowers bloom.
Here's where it gets interesting: Once your tulips have bloomed, you can use them to create beautiful arrangements. “Cut them at the base of the stem, leaving as many leaves as possible on them,” Johnston says. “Then immediately soak them in water to begin rehydrating them.” If your tulips are annuals (which most are), meaning they only bloom once, discard the bulbs once they die back. For perennial tulips, Johnston recommends cutting off and disposing of the leaves when the plants turn yellow, but leaving the bulbs in the ground until next year.
6. Try companion plants.
Planting certain plants nearby will not only make your garden more beautiful when the tulips are in bloom, but it can also hide the withered stems afterward. Here are some options to consider:
Forget-me-nots These little blue flowers look beautiful as a backdrop to your garden's star attraction, the tulips. They also last longer than tulips, helping to keep your garden looking beautiful until the summer flowers bloom. Daffodils Another of the most popular spring bulb plants, daffodils are perfect when planted alongside tulips in the spring. Daylilies Looking for something to add some cheer to your garden after the tulips have faded? Daylilies will grow at the same time as the tulips fade. Spring Phlox Another bright and beautiful ground cover, they will add a sea of flowers as a backdrop to your tulips. Hostas These big, bold leafy plants really start to grow once the tulips start to fade.
Potted tulips
1. Choose the right pan.
“Make sure your planter or container has good drainage,” says Johnston. “If you leave bulbs submerged in water, they're more likely to rot. Using bark to provide good drainage will help prevent this.” Placing bark in the bottom of a container will allow air to flow underneath the soil, preventing rot.
2. Plant bulbs 1 inch apart and fertilize.
Potted tulips are more eye-catching than single flowers, so plant the bulbs as close together as possible, at least an inch apart. “You can also plant other types of bulbs, like daffodils or crocuses, between the tulips,” she says. Care instructions are the same as for tulips in the ground: don't overwater, add a little fertilizer, and make sure they get the same amount of sun. After they bloom, clean the bulbs and foliage following the same guidelines.
3. Be careful not to overwater and make sure it gets enough sunlight.
Johnston has two pieces of advice for growing tulips indoors: Don't overwater them, and keep them near a sunny window.
For tulip arrangement ideas, try these expertly crafted bouquets.
Tulip bulbs
1. Consider whether you need to dig up your tulip bulbs.
Tulips need time to cool down to keep blooming year after year. In the northern United States, if you leave them in your garden all year, they will get cool enough temperatures to grow again the following spring. But in USDA growing zones 8 and above, it may not get cool enough the following year to produce beautiful blooms.
2. Once the plant has died, dig up the bulbs.
If you need to dig up your tulip bulbs, you'll need to be patient: wait until the tulips have bloomed and died, and then wait until the plants have withered and turned yellow before digging up the tulip bulbs. This time after flowering is key to giving the bulbs enough energy to flower again.
Use a small trowel to dig up, then carefully use your hands to pull the tulip bulbs out of the ground.
3. Prepare the tulip bulbs.
Trim off any remaining leaves and shake off any excess soil, then place the bulbs on a layer of paper towels or newspaper to dry. This will allow the bulbs to dry out properly and reduce the risk of mold and other diseases.
4.Store in a cool, dark place.
You can store it in the refrigerator, a cool basement, or another place where it can literally stay cool for months with temperatures in the 40s.
The ethylene released by apples, avocados and other fruits can cause bulbs to rot.
5. Repot in fall.
Repot your tulips at the same time you plant new bulbs (and maybe even plant a few new bulbs, just to be safe!).
FAQ
Are tulips perennials or annuals?
Outdoor tulips are usually perennials, meaning they bloom every year. Indoor tulips, on the other hand, usually don't bloom again (even if you plant them in the garden after they bloom). Tulips that bloom year-round indoors are stressed in pots and are therefore typically discarded after the first flowering cycle. Some people try to replant these bulbs, but this doesn't work very well.
When do tulips bloom?
Tulips are one of the first signs of spring. Bloom times vary depending on the variety, location, and weather, but you can expect them to bloom between March and May. Plant early, mid, or late spring blooming tulip varieties in your garden to enjoy color all season long.
What to do with your tulips after they bloom?
If you have tulips planted in your garden beds, cut off the flower heads when the flowers begin to fade, but leave all the leaves on and allow them to slowly fade. The leaves provide energy for the bulbs and help them survive the year. Once the leaves and stems have completely died back, cut them off to ground level. In most cases, you can leave the bulbs in the ground.
For indoor tulips, cut off any fading flowers and move the remaining leaves to a sunny windowsill and continue watering. Enjoy the plant until the leaves begin to wither as well. Eventually, the tulip will begin to yellow. At this point, gradually stop watering it and discard it from the pot when it withers. In rare cases, you can remove the tulip bulb to encourage it to bloom again.
What are some common problems when planting tulips and how can you solve them?
Tulips are hardy flowers that can be left alone once planted, but pests and diseases can get into the bulbs and flowers, so there are a few things to keep in mind.
Fungi and mold are the biggest enemies of tulips. A fungus called Botrytis tulipae (tulip fire) damages the plant, causing dark spots on the leaves. Mold usually affects the bulb itself, causing it to rot and the plant to stop growing or not sprout at all. Usually, bulb rot occurs in very humid conditions. Animals such as deer, squirrels, and rabbits love tulips. They may nibble at the plants when they start to sprout in the spring or steal the bulbs you just planted in the fall. You can keep them away with wire mesh or other repellents, or sprinkle hot pepper on the ground (or on the bulbs themselves) to prevent them from digging them up and eating them. Tulips have a shorter life span than other spring bulbs. You may notice that your plants no longer bloom as robustly each year. And most tend to wilt after three to five seasons of flowering.
Source link