My Tulips aren't Blooming! What do I do?
When you realize that your Tulips aren't Blooming, it probably isn't because of the Neighbor's Cat
Unless you have late blooming tulips, they should be fully bloomed by June of every year
While tulips are very hardy, there are some things that you need to know to ensure your tulips grow healthy. In this website, I have included my tips for growing the best tulips, outdoor and indoor, and keeping them healthy.
When I lived in Europe, I was fortunate enough to have visited the Netherlands and I have included some gorgeous photos of genuine Holland tulips.
Take a stroll and please enjoy yourself!
Tulips did not originally come from Holland!
Being a trivia nut, I was surprised to learn that tulips did not originally come from the lowlands of Holland. In fact, they came from somewhere that you might not have expected.
Tulips were imported into Holland after trade with the Ottomans. I didn't say that tulips came into the country inside of Ottomans, they came from the Ottoman empire. That geographic area is now the country of Turkey.
Tulips first appeared in Holland in the 1500's. They quickly became very popular and the gardens had to be guarded as theft of tulip bulbs was rampant. They became so prized that they were traded as money.
Eventually, tulips were grown by many people and they became less valuable. Tulip seeds and bulbs from the Netherlands began being traded as commodities, mostly to other countries.
Today, Holland (the Netherlands) is still known for tulips. Along with tulips, many other flowers are grown. However, you can find some of the best tulips in the world in Holland. I did when I was there!
Viator's Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam
I was fortunate to live in Europe for several years.
One of the trips that I took was to the Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam. This is one of the best known tulip gardens in the country of the Netherlands, formerly known as Holland.
I have collected some of my best photos of the tulip gardens and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Do Tulips Grow in your Garden?
Do you make sure that you have tulips in your garden every year?
How do I get the Best Bloomin' Tulips? - Tips for the healthiest outdoor tulip garden!
- Do not trim your tulip foliage until it turns yellow. If it is is green or still partially green, it is still storing nutrients for the plant. Cutting back the foliage too soon could injure the plant for this this season and also, prevent it from storing enough nutrients for next season!
- Stay away from hybrid tulips. These may be pretty and can grow really large, however, most are bred to last only one season. Next year, you may end up putting in new bulbs. Buy the hardiest tulips and some say that small is better when growing the best tulips.
- Do not plant tulip bulbs that are split or after the first planting year, do not have smaller bulbs growing around them. These are called "daughter" bulbs. These bulbs can be planted the next year, but will not actually grow into full tulips until two years later.
- Divide your bulbs! If you have bulbs that can be divided and are not split, be sure to divide them. They will be healthier and not competitive with the other half of the bulb. Ideally, you should dig them up and divide them right after they flower.
- Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize! This is essential for quality tulips!
- Don't over or under-water. If you plant "daughter" bulbs as mentioned above, put them in a drier area the first year and don't water them as much as you would your other tulips.
- Always plant tulip bulbs in the Fall season, before the first freeze. Tulips require being dormant and cold throughout the Winter. Planting them too early or too late could damage the bulbs.
Caring for your Indoor Tulips
Now that you have your outdoor tulips in perfect health, what can you do to ensure that you keep your indoor tulips in healthy condition?
First of all, tulips prefer being cool. You should keep them in a cool area with some sunlight, but not direct sunlight. Too much heat or sunlight will dry them out and most likely, will kill them.
Next, you should keep your tulips watered. Once again, moderation is the key. If you tap the side of your tulip pot with your knuckle, you should be able to tell if the pot is retaining enough water. A hollow sound or a light pot means that you don't have enough water.
Once your tulips are no longer green, you can keep the bulbs in the pot and they should grow again next year!