The tulip as duly noted in horticultural texts is a perennial flower. This means that a tulip should be expected to return and bloom year after year. But for all intents and purposes this isn’t always the case. Most tulip-lovers content themselves with treating it as an annual, re-planting again each fall.
This begs the inquiry “What to do with tulip bulbs when they stop blooming?”
Dig up tulips that are no longer blooming and discard the bulbs. (Small, weak tulip bulbs will likely never bloom again.) Plant new tulip bulbs in the fall.
Why are my tulip bulbs not blooming?
Tulip bulbs decline in vigor rather quickly. Weak bulbs produce large, floppy leaves, but no flowers. To maximize the number of years tulips are in bloom, choose planting sites that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day and have well-drained soils.
How can you tell if tulip bulbs are viable?
For the best chance at viability, purchase bulbs from guaranteed sellers. If you buy them secondhand, cut open one bulb to make sure the flower is alive — it should appear green and fresh. If it looks brown and shriveled up, that bulb will likely not bloom, although it will probably still put out leaves.
How often should you water tulips?
Watering these elegant plants takes the following format: After planting tulips deep in the ground, water the bulb thoroughly to start the cycle of the plant. Check the bulb weekly and water when the rain stops or doesn’t moisten the site. Don’t overwater to maintain a stable moisture level. When the tulips emerge, water if the surrounding soil is dry.
What happens if you cut off a tulip bulb?
In general, large, firm tulip bulbs are usually viable, whereas small, dry or shriveled bulbs are not. Once the blooms fade on your tulips and the leaves start to turn brown, you may be tempted to cut them off. If you do that, you may be preventing the flower from blooming again next year.