Tulips, Do I need to do anything now that they wilted?

15 years ago

The petals have all fallen off and they are starting to turn brown. Do I have to do anything for next year to ensure that they bloom again?

Comments (7)

wolala
15 years ago
Here is what I did with mine:

I dig them up. Cut off the stems and lay them on the ground with paper underneath to dry for about a week. The spot that I chose to dry them is somewhat shady with a few hours of morning sun. I store them in a bag and wait until next fall to replant.

Through this method, I mutiple my tulip bulbs from 12 to about 70 in 3 years.
diyourselfer
Original Author
15 years ago
Well I'm not gonna dig them up as there are 200 and they only cost me $30. It would be easier to plant more next December. So do I just do nothing?
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zubababy
15 years ago
leave the foliage in place until it has completely turned yellow / brown. then it's easy to remove my gently pulling on the dead foliage. if it doesn't come off easily, then it's not time to remove :).
next year when they bloom you can see if they multiplied or if you have less of a show. then you can plan accordingly, for future years - if you need to add more or not.
zubababy
15 years ago
also, cut off the spent flowers (just the top inch or two) - so the bulb can put it's energy into getting bigger, and making baby bulbs, instead of putting all the energy into making seeds.
diyourselfer
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Zubababy. Do I clip the tops of the stems now or wait till the foliage is yellow/brown? Im curious as to why you dont clip the stem closer to the bulb?

Thanks!!!
zubababy
15 years ago
clip the spent flowers now. you can cut until you hit the first leaf. you want to leave as much of the foliage on it as you can.
jodik_gw
15 years ago
Leaves are required to replenish the bulb for next year's flower show... adding a little bulb food to your bulb bed would be a good thing to do, unless you've recently amended the soil... in which case, they'll have plenty of nourishment available.

My bulb bed contains tulips and other spring blooming bulbs, and in between those, I planted perennials that keep the show going all summer, not to mention hide the bulb leaves as they begin to fade and turn brown... With all the other flowers blooming and growing around the tulips, you never notice that the leaves aren't green and lively!

There's nothing you really need to do with tulips once they're finished blooming, beyond allowing the leaves to photosynthesize food for the bulb, itself.

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Tulips, Do I need to do anything now that they wilted?

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wolala

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Tulips, Do I need to do anything now that they wilted?

Comments (7)

wolala

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