Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 6/25/2004

Question
When I was very young, my mom and I found the most wonderfully scented tulips I have ever known.  I have no idea what kind they are. The bloom is small and not really pretty, but the smell more than makes up for that.  We live in a rural area in Central Indiana.  We found them around an old abandoned house down the road where an older woman had lived until she died, and the house eventually was demolished.  We dug the bulbs and brought them home.  They grew fairly well the first couple of years, but soon started to dwindle.  We thought that we must have put them in a bad location, so we relocated them.  They just continued to diminish.  The last several years, some leaves have grown each year, but they never bloom any more.  I hope that there is a way to save these exceptional bulbs. I just love them.  If you have any suggestions, I will try just about anything to save them.  Thank you so much for your time.  

Answer
What you have happened upon are heirloom bulbs which is actually quite exciting. I would try to save them because they are really priceless in todays world of hybrids.

Tulips prefer well draining soil with plenty of compost mixed in (aged compost, not fresh manure).

Also, try to locate them in a place with full sun.

In early spring, fertilize the bulbs with a bulb fertilizer by scatter some over the top of the soil. After floweing, deadhead the tulips (e.g. remove spent flower) but leave the foliage (leaves) to conduct photosynthesis without pulling the leaves off or otherwise cutting or restricting them. This is vey important for the health of the tulip in future years. You can fertilize one more time just as the bulbs are ready to flower.

In early summer, after the tulip leaves have turned completely brown and has withered on their own, you can remove the foliage at ground level.

It is best if the place where they are planted stay somewhat dry in summer, e.g. right under a downspout or at the bottom of a hill is not ideal. However, in spring they require plenty of moisture.

The 3 most important things are:
- full sun, plenty of organic matter in planting hole, and good drainage (no standing water or bulbs rot)
- fertilize 2-3 times per year: in early spring, just as they are about to flower, and fertilize the ground in early fall
- let the tulip flower, and then cut back the flower stem but let the leaves die back on their own naturally.

Even if the tulip does not flower the first 1-3 years to come, you should still follow the rest to the advice. this will slowly improve the bulb. I would also consider using an insect spray if it looks as if insects are bothering them.