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Do bulbs survive after cut flowers?

15 years ago

This is my first year growing flowers from bulbs(or rhizomes, etc). Some of my flowers have come up already and others are looking really nice. I have been picking some of the flowers, and cutting them to bring inside the house in vases. My question is whether the bulbs will still survive to bloom again next year after I have cut the stem like this? I think some of the flowers like daffodils or even irises, I have tried to leave as much of the foliage on as possible, so hopefully these will survive until next year. I have read that you should let the foliage die down, so that the bulb will get as much energy as possible for next year. However, some of the other flowers (at least right now), like lilies, it seems as if when you cut the stem, you basically have to take most of the leaves too. And I'd like to cut a reasonable amount of the stems so they look good in vases and not just a couple of inches. Here are the flowers that I have (some have already finished blooming): daffodils, irises, tulips, lilies, callas, glads, delphinium, cannas, dahlias, crinium, peonies, tree peonies. Thanks!

Featured Answer

elleni

15 years ago

I have tall lilies, so I can cut flowers and still have lots of stem left. I think I read that you should leave at least one-third of the steam and leaves to store energy for the ext year.

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Comments (8)

vetivert8
15 years ago
Daffodils, bulb irises, tulips - take the flower stems and leave the leaves. If you need foliage use, perhaps, seasonal shrubbery.

Cannas and glads produce heaps of non-flowering offsets (usually) and they'll be growing on for next year anyway.

For the in-ground perennials such as your paeonies callas, and delphiniums - after cutting, 'feed me' and as elleni says - leave plenty of leaves.
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I don't cut back the stems until they go brown, and am generally rewarded the following year (this year some of my tulips and daffodils look sad, probably because of a late frost). I "hide" the stems by planting my bulbs in with my perennials as Steve suggested; daylilies work great, as they come up at just the right time. And I agree with not braiding or tying up the foliage. I was very disappointed to see this suggestion recently in my favorite gardening magazine. Al-thanks for suggesting cutting away the flowers, I've never done that and it certainly makes sense. Vivian
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Nkt, removing flower stalks opposed to allowing them to remain is mostly done to save berries/seeds for germination. I too read removing the stalk soon after flowers fade, strengthens the following years buds. If you want to sow seeds from your Clivia, use the brightest, mosts mature, red berries. I had an old 10 gallon aquarium filled w/a couple inches of soil. Odds andd ends were rooted inside. One year, I left the flower stalk on until berries reddened. I didn't want to toss them, so I removed each seed, and inserted in the aquarium soil. Months passed, 'can't recall how many,' and baby Clivia seedings grew. When each stood about 7", with 4 or more leaves, I gave them to friends. Give seeds a try....Toni
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Hi Mickey, Leave as much of the plant as you can until Fall. The leaves need to feed the bulb. Once the leaves start to turn yellow then you can go ahead and cut them down. Lilies need to vernalize over the winter to get new growth in the spring. So you need to plant them out in Fall. You can also overwinter the pot by putting it is a protected but umheated spot. (like an unheated garage.) But, it's riskier since a pot is more subject to temperature springs than bulbs in the ground. -Helen
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ladychroe
15 years ago
A general rule: Leaves provide energy to a plant, and flower and seed production take energy from a plant. So if you take away the flower, you are actually strengthening the bulb.

That's why tulips and hyacinths are so full and strong the first year after planting - the bulb farms cut down the flower stem so that the flower will not sap the bulb's resources. The year after, when sold, the bulb is supercharged.

You may have to take a fair amount of lily leaves to get a proper stem on a cut lily flower. Try to take the minimum. They will come back, but flower production might be diminished next year if you take too much foliage. Asiatic lilies seem stronger and more able to handle the stress of cutting than the Orientals.

Don't the bearded iris blooms stain your tablecloth when they drop their flowers? I never cut bearded iris for that reason.
User
9 years ago
Cutting back tulip leaves after blossoms fall off. If I cut back the leaves, what chance do they have of blooming next year. As they appear now my wife claims they are unsightly, however I feel they will lose nourishment for next year. Please advise!!
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Don't do it! Leave the foliage until it yellows. If you cut it off while it is still green your bulbs will be weakened because they cannot photosynthesise. The bulbs will dwindle and you will kibosh next year's flowers. The way to avoid the unsightliness is to grow mixed plantings, not all bulbs. If you had some perennials in the bed they would have hidden the bulb foliage by now.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
9 years ago
If I cut back the leaves, what chance do they have of blooming next year.
Are they named varieties? Do you know the names of them? Many, in fact most, tulips are more like annuals than perennials.

Only certain cultivars will reliably bloom for many years, and even multiply.

I think that Divisions 4, 11, and 13 from this list, will be perennial.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: About Perennial tulips at White Flower Farm
Deeby
9 years ago
Don't bring lilies indoors if you have cats. Lilies kill cats. I won't even grow lilies in the yard for fear of blowing pollen.
Jon 6a SE MA
9 years ago
Tulips, daffodils and other bulb plants grow flowers from the bulbs established the year before. Dutch growers mow the flowers off to nourish the bulbs. Never cut the leaves unless you want an annual. I fertilize with bone meal after the blooms have dropped as this is when the bulbs develop for next year.

Jon

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