Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 8/3/2006

Question
Hi,

I am Naela from Cairo, Egypt. Very high temperatures and high relative humidity as you know.

Here's my problem.

I got tulip bulbs from Holland about the begining of April, as I knew there, these bulbs should be planted in winter, like in December or something. So, I left the bulbs in their nylon packs (which was something very stupid). After about a month, in May you may say, I found that all the bulbs were damaged. It's like the outer skin looked ok, but seems that the inside of the bulb turned into powder, I discovered that when I found ants attacking the bulbs. I oppened all the packs and found that some of the bulbs were completely damaged, so I threw them away. Some of the bulbs grew baby bulbs around them, I think this was caused by the excess humidity, and some had the outer most layers damaged, but seems that some of the inside layers looked ok.
So, as trying to rescue the rest of the bulb till the planting season, I took those inner layers, which looked like a smaller bulb, maybe half the size out, and cut the baby bulbs of their mothers.
packed every type in paper, then put all of them in stainless steal box, then put it in the freezer. The baby bulbs are maybe less than 1 cm in diameter.

Now, I wanna know, if there's any hope I can plant these bulbs. For the, let's say, half bulbs that I took from inside the bigger bulbs. Can these grow? or be any usefull. For the baby bulbs, can I plant them next winter? Or should they grow a little bigger before planting, and how can this be?! I mean making them grow bigger without planting. What can I do? I'm so sad for all the bulbs I got from Holland, It's about 9 types.

Also, I need to know, what kind of fertilizers I need, what type of soil? Should I use a mixture of sand and mud, or the thing they sell in the stores, which I hate most (since it killed many hawaiian schefflera trees that I had before, as it doesn't get rid of excess water!)
Can these be planted inside the house?
Just tell me what should I do with the bulbs, as I have no idea now!

Thanks a lot for your help.

Naela

Answer
Tulips need a vernalization period (cooling period) of 18 weeks below 40F (5C) to flower. During this period the flower initiates inside the bulb.

Bulbs which has disintegrated can be thrown away. healthy bulbs which has sprouted already will not flower due to lack of vernalization (cooling) but green leaves will grow. Cared for properly, you can grow the bulbs with green leaves at cool temperatures 55-68F (12-20F) for best result. The longer the leaves stay on the plant the better. Provide enough sun for adequate growth (but avoid hot afternoon sun) and give an annual plant fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, 10-15-10, etc. You can grow them warmer, but foliage does not last long and they probably will not be able to store enough energy to reconsistute the bulb for next year.

Next year you would need to harvest the bulbs 3-4 weeks after the leaves have died back and store the dry and cool (fridge) below 40F (5 deg C) for a minimum period of 18 weeks until December when you plant the bulbs at the coolest period of the year. The bulbs should then come up and flower.

Bulbs require very good drainage. If your soil drains well, then plant in these. Do not plant in very heavy soil where drainage is poor.

Generally, in your area, it is extremely difficult to grow tulips. I would recommend concentrating of plants which likes warm summer temperatures and mild winters. Tulips are not ideally suited to your area.