The Environment Does Not Encourage Them To Bloom Your tulips coming up blind could be as a result of planting them in an unfavorable environment. A couple more things to examine: overwatering 5, planting too close to the soil surface 6, and pests are eating the flowers.
At most times, when tulips do not bloom, they do not have the right climate or the environment to blossom. They adjust well to mountain temperatures where there are warm summers and cold winters. However, that will not be the weather condition in the plains. The trick is to grow them in an environment that is similar to that of mountains.
All flower bulbs, not just tulips, need phosphorus in order to form flower buds . If your soil is lacking phosphorus, your tulips will not bloom every year.
What happens to tulip bulbs after they bloom?
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. Promptly remove spent flowers after the tulips are done blooming.
Why are my tulip bulbs rotting?
Too much water in the soil can cause tulip bulbs to rot away. Again, in this case, the bulbs have to be replaced. Choose a planting site that drains well and does not collect standing water for your new tulip bed. Home gardeners in some climates dig up their bulbs and store them in a cool, dry location to be planted again when the time is right.
Do tulip bulbs need cold in the winter?
All spring blooming bulbs need a certain amount of cold to form flower buds, but this is especially important to tulips. If you live in USDA zone 5 or higher, concrete forms can actually keep the tulip bulbs warmer in the winter which will keep them from forming flower buds. Consider planting your tulips in mounds.