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tomtuxman

Tulip bulb reflorification?

tomtuxman
14 years ago

My garden has about 200 tulips planted, but only about 40 in any given year produce blooms, mostly the old Darwins and Emperors, so I end up with a lot of yellows and reds (bor-ing!).

However, I have great leaf production from the non-bloomers so I know they are still alive and some of these are really fine and fancy types. I acknowledge that some are in the wrong locations (too much shade, competition from tree roots, etc.) and I understand that many varieties are really not re-bloomers.

That said, I would like to see if I can dig up the non-bloomers and give them another chance.

Is there any protocol for revitalizing or resuscitating a tulip bulb's blooming potential?

Comments (12)

  • sunandshadow
    14 years ago

    Have you been fertilizing every spring and fall? Other than that, not too much you can do besides spread the out if they are too crowded. And if they do flower, when the flower is done, cut if off, don't let it waste energy going to seed.

    I've also heard it recommended not to water them after they bloom, at all. This discourages the bulbs from splitting, so it slightly raises the rate of reflowering the next year but that's only for ones that bloomed in the current year.

  • iris_gal
    14 years ago

    For sure move the too shaded ones. When you dig mix bonemeal in the lower soil. I would probably also add a low nitrogen fertilizer like bulb food.

    When I lose tulips here in warm winter zone, no foliage.

  • katob Z6ish, NE Pa
    14 years ago

    Here's a protocol that works for me:
    When planting, the more sun the better.
    If the soil is in relatively good condition (other perennials grow well), don't bother fertilizing.
    When the foliage begins to yellow or has yellowed completely, dig the bulbs. (keep colors seperate if you don't want the yellows and reds to dominate!)
    Spread them out somewhere dry to cure(dry out completely) for a couple days.
    Break off the old roots and stems, seperate out the larger bulbs, throw the rest in the compost.
    Store them in a warm dry spot in something that won't hold moisture (mesh bag, paper bag, open trays)
    Replant in early fall.

    Just dividing and keeping them dry over the summer might be enough to bring on extra blooms next spring.

  • tomtuxman
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Kato b, your suggestion just might work and, as far as I'm concerned, is worth the risk since most of these babies aren't budding and flowering anyway.

    Fertilizing and overcrowding were never the issues, IMO.

  • Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
    14 years ago

    It may be too, that the non blooming ones are just not the more perennial ones, and you may never have good luck with getting them to reliable bloom.

    If the suggestions above don't work, I'd pitch them and going forward only purchase perennial ones.

    Sue

  • pippi21
    13 years ago

    Aren't all tulips perennials? Never heard of annual tulip bulbs.

  • Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
    13 years ago

    Aren't all tulips perennials? Never heard of annual tulip bulbs.
    Though a lot of tulip packaging and descriptions might lead you to believe they will provide you with years of beautiful spring blooms, that is often not the case. Most tulips will only bloom nicely the very first spring, and after that, there will be foliage emerge, but very few blooms, and thus be a real disappointment.

    Darwin Hybrids usually bloom well for several years and even multiply.
    Other good choices for reliable spring time blooms are Species Tulips

    Sue

  • calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
    13 years ago

    Here in a warm winter climate I do as kato b except that in September they go in a refrigerator until December when they are planted. Any bulbs less than 12cm circumference are discarded as most small than that will not bloom. Al

  • ANNAMARIA VECCHIO
    13 years ago

    A friend of mine gave me some Tulips at Easter, they Died, I separated the bulbs and removed the dead "coverings"...should I try to make them grow again...or should I just let them dry and store them for later?
    Annamaria

  • joannpalmyra
    13 years ago

    Soemone mentioned composting the small bulbs, but I was once advised to have a nursery area for planting small bulbs. When they are large enough they will bloom, and can be moved to a more showy area. I've done this with daffodils, but not tulips.

  • tomtuxman
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Blooming in zone 5, what is your protocol for the nursery area? Soil type? Watering? feeding? Sun/shade?

  • joannpalmyra
    13 years ago

    Well Tomtuxman, I don't know much about bulb care - I just wing it most of the time. For my bulb nursery I chose a sunny spot and planted the babies with plenty of space between. I never relocated them once they bagan blooming, so it's probably time to separate them. I have others that I will separate this year as well and will need to make a new nursery.
    When I bought my house I found several clumps of short tulip leaves in the backyard grass. I dug, divided and replanted them and have had pretty peony tulips for several years now. My neighbors said the gardens had been neglected for many years prior, so those tulip bulbs had probably been in the ground a long time before the division and move regenerated them.
    Good luck with your tulips! :)