Tulip Help

[cindy9797]

Help! My Tulips are coming up out of the ground and only about 20% of them have bloom buds. What do I need to do?

Is there a way to prevent this from happening next year? It's gonna be so sad, I have all these green leafy things, but will have no flowers on them.

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Cindy

[Newt]

Hi Cindy,

There are several possible reasons for this. If the soil is compacted, if the soil hasn't enough organic matter for nutrients, if the bulbs aren't mature enough or drought during the fall. You could topdress with compost or scratch in some bulb food and then topdress. Leave the foilage to yellow before removing so the leaves can feed the bulbs for next years bloom. If you can remember where they are located in the fall, you can scratch in more fertilizer then.

Newt

[Sweetpea]

~Cindy~

Are the tulips in their first growing season? If, last fall, you planted mid to late season blooming tulips they may just need more time. Temperature can also affect bud development. So, for now you will wait and observe.

Are these newer hybrid tulips that were planted in fall of 2003 to bloom in spring of 2004 and this is their second year of growth? If so, you will never have repeat blooms of all bulbs. This type of bulb is meant to be treated as an annual and is dug up and discarded after blooming is finished. You may get foliage every year but bud count will also drop off each year.

If you planted species tulips these return for more than one season. As flowers fade, remove them. Let the foliage die back naturally, don't bend over, braid or cut it off. Feed bulb bed after flowering is done, and keep the bed watered thru fall.

Use google to locate bulb websites for in depth information.