Tulip Bouquets
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1.
Choose tulips that are closed and tight.
“The tulips will have a limited vase life once they reach the ‘open’ stage.”
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Choose the right vase.
Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle.
When you’re cutting the stems, be mindful that tulips grow after they’re in the vase.
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Provide plenty of water.
“Tulips love water,” says Bladow.
“Cold, fresh water is best.
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We suggest changing the water every other day and giving the stems a fresh cut.”
Avoid overexposure to sunlight.
Be selective when adding other flowers.
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Tulips in Flower Beds
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1.
Plant them in the fall or winter.
But down south it is better to wait until December.
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Dig the right size hole and plant.
Johnston recommends using a drill with a bulb auger drill bit for easy planting.
Place them in sandy, well-drained soil.
Cover with mulch during the off-season.
Tulip bulbs are a beloved snack for squirrels, rabbits, and other garden dwellers.
Go light on watering.
Tulips rarely need water.
Johnston suggests one good soaking after planting and then again when they first start to sprout green leaves.
Clean up when they bloom.
This is the exciting part: Once tulips bloom, you could use them to create beautiful arrangements.
“Then immediately place it in water so that it can start hydrating.”
A few options to consider:
Potted Tulips
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1.
Choose the right pot.
“confirm your planter or container has proper drainage,” Johnston says.
“If your bulbs have to sit in water, they are more likely to rot.
Avoid this by using bark to create extra drainage.”
Plant the bulbs an inch apart, then fertilize.
After they bloom, follow the same guidelines to clean up the bulbs and foliage.
Don’t overwater and provide adequate sunlight.
Tulip Bulbs
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1.
Consider whether it’s crucial that you dig up your tulip bulbs.
to keep your tulips coming back year after year, they need to have some time to chill.
Dig up the bulbs when the plants wither.
If you do need to dig up your tulip bulbs, you gotta be patient.
That post-bloom time is key to giving your bulbs enough energy to rebloom.
Prep the tulip bulbs.
Cut off any remaining foliage and brush off any excess soil.
Then leave them out on a few layers of paper towels or newspapers to dry out.
That will ensure that your bulbs are nice and dry to reduce the risk of mold or other diseases.
Store in a cool, dark place.
The ethylene from apples, avocados, and other fruits can rot your bulbs.
Replant in the fall.
Replant your tulips at the same time of year you would plant new bulbs.
(And maybe even throw in a few new bulbs for good measure!)
Frequently Asked Questions
Outdoor tulips are usually perennial flowers, meaning they should return year after year.
Some may attempt to replant these bulbs with limited success.
Tulips are one of the first signs of spring.
For tulips in your garden bed, snip away the flower head after it starts to wilt.
However, leave all the foliage intact and allow it to fade slowly.
The leaves provide energy to the bulb, which helps the bulb survive the rest of the year.
Once the leaves and stems are entirely dead, cut them down to ground level.
In most cases, you might leave the bulbs in the ground.
Enjoy the leaves until they, too, start to fade.
Eventually, the plant will begin to yellow.
At this point, slowly stop watering the plant and discard it from the pot once it dies.
In rare cases, you could remove the tulip bulbs and get them to rebloom.
A few things to watch out for:
Tulip lifespans are shorter than some other spring bulbs.
