Expert: Long Island Gardener - 3/28/2008

Question
march store bought blooming tulips in pots, they are now having leaves turn yellow and flower dying, how can I get another bloom from them now or safe for next spring

Answer
Sad truth is, few potted Tulips purchased in stores ever live to see another Spring.

That's because many ground-grown Tulips that bloom in Spring don't make it, either.

The Dutch breed Tulips for fun and profit, mostly profit.  Big, beautiful hybrids are what sell.  Short stems work for the potting trade; long stems for the flowers trade; everything works for gardeners.  They're not that costly to begin with relatively speaking, so it's not like they can make a career out of selling us all 3 or 4 varieties of Tulips and they'll never see us again because the varieties live forever.  There is no pressure to grow Tulips that last season after season.  The pressures are on stem length, color, early bloom, a few other traits.  Not on a promise that they'll grow more than once or twice.

Just so you don't think you have a Brown thumb.  If you've read my answers on this website, you know there's no such thing as a Brown thumb.

But let's make sure you're getting the most out of the Tulips you have.  Tulip leaves normally turn yellow and brown at the end of the bloom cycle -- at the END.  If you don't water them and/or protect them from drying heat, they fold early.  And that shortens your bloom cycle.

These pots must be watered and kept as cool as possible.  Blooms shielded from direct rays of the Sun keep their color longer and they last their full cycle.  Potted Tulips baked in the full Sun on a windowsill, unwatered, over a hot radiator are doomed blooms.

Too late now to change anything.  Spilt milk.  What's done is done.  But in the future, remember to water them, place them away from direct rays, in still air, as cool as possible and NEVER on a radiator.  Oh... and out of reach of children.

It is almost impossible to tide these over for next Spring.  But who cares?  People try it anyway.

Grow in Full Sun as long as possible after blooms have faded.  Water, then let dry out between waterings.  When leaves have faded and turned brown -- never sooner than this -- let them dry out completely, then remove spent bulbs and place in paper bag with shredded newspaper (never plastic).  Store in the coolest part of the basement, and keep dry until autumn.  Then bury 1 foot deep and wait for Spring.  Good luck with this,

L.I.G.