Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 4/5/2004

Question
Hi,

I am a new gardener and I live in Atlanta, GA.  I am so disappointed because recently my tulips (red) bloomed beautifully, but they have already lost their flowers.  The stems and leaves look very healthy and I didn't see any signs of pests.

Is this a stage the flowers go through?  Will the flowers bloom again?

PS, the flowers are located outside and were planted in late November.  They started coming up in march and the flowerw were open by late march.  

Answer
This is unfortunately how tulips are. They are a long time coming. They will put on a great show, but for a short period only.

Once the tulips open, they soon decline (loose their petals). Once the petals has fallen, you should deadhead the plants (e.g. cut off the very top of the flower stem to remove the spent flowers). The let the green foliage stay until it turns yellow on it's own in late spring. Make sure you water well in spring, but reduce watering in the bed in summer, if possible.. also do not restrict or remove the green foliage (leaves) prematurely. Let the leaves stay and conduct photosynthesis (e.g. use the suns energy to recharge the bulb) until the foliage "turns" on it's own.

Normally flowering can take from 1 to 3 weeks depending on temperatures and wind. Very windy areas will have the tulips blow 'off' early. Relatively warm temperatures will result in a much shorted flowering period compared to a relatively cool period.

Tulips are not extremely reliable perennializers. What often happens with tulips, is that they will flower the first year not to flower again. Given good growing conditions and fertilized, deadheaded and otherwise left to grow they may repeat next year. Most people treat them as annuals and dischard them. Plant new bulbs next fall.

If this is your decision then you do not need to do anything else now. Just yank them up of the ground before the foilage dies back and you can't find the bulbs again. If you want to try having them rebloom, then you need to deadhead, fertilize and keep the green foliage. Just don't get too disappointed if the show is less next year.

Hyacinths, daffodils, crocus etc are much more reliable perennilizers and can be left in the ground for years.

Good luck.