Tulip care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Tulip

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 3 days

From sprouting through bloom, water thoroughly once the topsoil dries, as a guide; when the leaves yellow and die, stop watering and lift the bulbs.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 5 days

After planting the bulb is growing roots, so generally water well whenever the soil dries; if it stays dry the roots stall.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every 7 days

Even with nothing showing, the roots are growing: water pots thoroughly in the morning when the soil dries, as a guide, since drying out makes the flowers small.

Light and placement for Tulip

From planting to bloom keep it in a sunny spot outdoors, as a guide; winter cold is what develops the flower, so it does not belong in a warm room, and moving it to cool shade once open makes the flower last.

Overwintering Tulip

Overwintering guide: −10°C (14°F) or above

Cold-hardy and generally left outdoors all winter; pots just need to be kept from drying out under the eaves, and hardly any protection is usually needed.

Fertilizing and repotting Tulip

Fertilizer

Mix slow-release fertilizer into the soil at planting and give liquid feed about two or three times from sprouting to bloom; to grow the bulb on, continue dilute feed until the leaves die back.

When to repot

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Common problems with Tulip

• Planted in still-warm September or October, the bulbs rot.
• Pots dried out in winter give small flowers or none.
• Cutting the leaves while green starves next year's bulb.

Tips for growing Tulip

• Plant around November when leaves turn, spacing bulbs one bulb apart in pots for a full display.
• After bloom cut only the flower head and leave the leaves until they yellow.
• Bulbs shrink in Japan's hot summers, so buying fresh bulbs each fall is common.

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