Potted bulbs

14 Responses

1. 

   Sheila emersson

   10/18/2016 at 4:01 pm · Reply →

   Hi may name is Sheila , I received tulip on Easter. I left them in the pot . It is now October I removed them from the pot and soil. I have placed them in a zip lock bag . Want to repot them . what do I do the bulbs look good . not soft. firm. what can I do so the will bloom next spring.

   Hi Sheila
   You can store the bulb and in a cool place 60-65F until ready to re-plant in fresh soil. Prior to planting, the bulbs should be chilled in temperatures of 40-50 degrees for 4-6 weeks. The pre cooled bulbs can be then planted in pots late Nov./early Dec. for Easter bloom. It’s difficult to get a potted bulb to rebloom but with a little luck it can happen.more info
   http://hortchat.com/info/saving-your-easter-lily

2. 

   Sharron Law

   1/30/2015 at 12:49 pm · Reply →

   I have stored tulip bulbs planted in containers in my garage over the winter. It is now February and I don’t know when to take the out of the garage and put them on the west facing porch. The tulips planted in the ground on the east side of the house are peeking through the ground, but cold winter weather is still in the forecast.

   Hi Sharon
   When you see some green peeking from the soil in your container, will be an indicator that tulips are ready to start growing. You can then take them outdoors. But also keep in mind, if temperatures get below freezing, the tulips will need protection from the cold.

3. 

   Judy

   3/19/2014 at 4:22 am · Reply →

   I received some potted plants for my birthday. they are amethyst, lilac and daffadils. I have never done well with flowers. They are already dying! How should I be taking care of them?

   Hi Judy
   It’s best to keep potted plants away from direct sunlight but give the bright indirect light. Keep them in a cooler room and they will last longer. Potted bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinth usually last from 7-14 days.

4. 

   Peter

   3/6/2014 at 7:29 am · Reply →

   Hi, why are my tulip flower stalks twisting and flattening up ? The were growing healthily but suddenly, the stems started twisting up And were also flat when I came back from work ( the bottom and top part of the stem are still plump ) .The flat and twisted stems couldn’t support the flower, so I had to stake them … Please answer this as soon as possible, thanks 🙂 … P.s our country is warm year round ..

   Elongated stems
   Hi Peter
   Tulip stems will continue to grow and elongate as they mature. Growers use a growth inhibitor to reduce elongation. Low light and warm temperatures will cause the stems to elongate, twist toward the light and become weak. To do well, tulips need bright indirect light and cool temperatures.

5. 

   Sean

   2/14/2013 at 8:16 am · Reply →

   Rebloom hyacinth bulb
   hi, again, my hyacinth flower has withered and the leaves are starting to turn yellow, can i still use the bulb again ? Will it still bloom the next time i plant it ? thx.

   HI Sean
   Forced bulbs drain much energy out of the bulb and should not be forced to bloom again. Some will discard the bulb.
   To try to save it. Cut off the dead flower stalk and allow the foliage to continue to grow until it yellows and dies back naturally. The best chance you have for the bulb to rebloom is to plant it outdoors. Fertilize in the spring and with a little luck, it may rebloom in 2-3 years. If it blooms you will get a smaller, looser flower head. For additional info see….http://hortchat.com/info/hyacinth-care

6. 

   Amanda F

   2/17/2012 at 8:36 pm · Reply →

   Potted bulb care
   Hello,

   I just received red and white tulips for Valentines Day from the grocery store. How long do potted tulips last? What can I do to keep them alive? Can I cut them to place in a vase indoors? How and when can I plant them in the ground? As you can tell I’ve never ever in my life planted flowers or have the slightest idea but I really want to learn and would absolutely love to grow flowers in my yard. Please help!!! I leave in Fresno Texas just in case.
   Thank you,
   Amanda Fonseca

   Hi Amanda
   Potted tulips usually last about 10-14 days depending on the environment. If you keep them in a cooler place away from direct sun, they will last longer than in a warm, sunny spot. You can also cut the flowers and put them in a vase. The bulbs can be saved for future rebloom but there are some things you need to do to replenish the bulb. Make sure you let the foliage continue to grow. Also fertilize lightly (1/2 strength) while the leaves are growing. see the above article for more info on planting.

7. 

   christina

   5/9/2011 at 9:44 am · Reply →

   I received a potted tulip plant. When I received it, the foliage looked slightly discolored. The plant died almost immediately. Can I clip everything off and replant the bulbs in the fall (provided they do not seem rotten)? I am in zone 5B. Thanks for any help.

   Hi Christina
   You can replant the whole pot in the ground now or wait until fall to plant them. I would leave the foliage until it turns brown and then clip it off.

8. 

   Karen

   3/9/2011 at 11:41 am · Reply →

   Just received a potted plant of dainty daffodils. They are for someone who will not be back in town for another 2 weeks. How to I keep these?

   HI Karen
   Keep the potted daffodils in a cool place away from direct sun. The cooler the better. Potted daffoldils usually last about 2 weeks.

9. 

   Mariam

   2/15/2011 at 5:05 pm · Reply →

   Keep indoors or outdoors
   Hi. I just received a potted tulip. 2 flowers have bloomed and 2 buds are present. I live in Seattle and it’s mid feb right now. Do i keep the plant indoors or keep it outside? What would be the watering shedule and sunlight requirements? I don’t have ground to plant them in so they have to remain in the pot, how long will they last like that ?

   Hi Mariam
   Enjoy the plant indoors in a cool room and keep the pot away from direct sun as that can open the flowers too fast and shorten their lifespan. You can move it outdoors in cool/shade but I would think you’d like to enjoy the flowers as they bloom. As far as watering, check the soil to see if the top inch is dry or lift the pot and if it is light, water. Water well so that it drains out from the bottom of the pot. The life span of potted tulips is at best 2 weeks given the right conditons
   Once they are done blooming, you can do one of two things either discard them or save the bulbs for the next season. In order to utilize the bulbs for the next year, you should remove the spent flower head, keep the soil evenly moist and let the foliage die back. Never remove the leaves until they have completely turned brown and pull away. This will store up energy for the next season’s bloom. Forced potted bulbs may not bloom next year so I would recommend you give them to someone who can plant them in the ground.

10. 

    Ray

    12/6/2009 at 10:51 am · Reply →

    My sister received a large pot of assorted flowering bulbs earlier this year. Once the flowers died, and foliage turned brown, she moved the whole pot outside, where it has sat for the last 6months. The only watering as such was from rain! Now, I noticed the bulbs seemed to have all sprouted, with healthy green tips about an inch above the soil. With really cold weather coming on, what should I do to promote flowering? I doubt they will survive outside left unprotected, and I think it’s too late to sink the pot into the cold ground now. Should we bring them indoors and allow to bloom, without repotting? I would appreciate your advice on saving these amazingly hardy potted bulbs. Thanks!

    HI Ray,
    Yes, bring them inside and put them in a sunny window and watch them grow. See what happens. I’m not sure if they will bloom again. Bulbs that are forced in containers have a difficult time reblooming unless they are planted in the ground. Even then. they may not bloom until next season after they “rebuild” the bulb. Are these tulips? Hardy bulbs need a cold dormant period to bloom. If the bulbs shoots are just an inch or two, you can store the pot in a frig for a few months to delay bloom. Keep the pots away from any fruit or vegetables as the ethylene they emit can damage the bulbs.

11. 

    Kevin Deitz

    3/4/2009 at 8:36 am · Reply →

    March 4 2009 Grand Rapids, Michigan I’ve read through many of your answers and believe I need a personalized answer for my situation. I bought my girlfriend potted tulips for valentines day thinking: “o man that will be cool she will get some beautiful flowers now and again next year if I plant them.” Now I realize its more work than that. We have winters with temperatures usually between 10 and 30 degrees F sometimes below 0 F. And due to Lake Michigan the weather is a little crazy all year long you never know what you will get. Can tulip bulbs be left in the ground if the temperature will be below 0 F?

    HI Kevin
    Yes, tulips can be left in the ground year round. They are hardy and will withstand freezing temperatures as long as they are planted in the ground. They need a cold dormant period in order to bloom the next season. Once the tulips are done blooming, let the foliage grow and eventually die back. You can then plant them in the ground or store the bulbs in a cool place and plant them in the fall. Another option (I have tried )is as soon as the soil can be worked and the tulips are finished blooming, plant the contents of the pot in the ground and let the foliage die back outside. That way, you won’t have to store the bulbs and try to remember to plant them in the fall.

12. 

    Jenni

    3/3/2008 at 11:09 am · Reply →

    I live in Missouri – zone 5. I have a pot of purchased tulips that are now spent. I want to plant them permanently outdoors, but for future reference – so I can force bulbs – I’d like to know whether they should be put in the fridge as the bulbs themselves or plant them in the pot I wish to grow them in and place the entire pot in the fridge? Also, I want to give a few of the bulbs to a friend. Should I wait until the growth dies back and dig the bulbs and let them dry out? (so they look like what you would buy at the garden center – dry papery bulbs with no growth) Thanks

    Ok, there are two things we need to discuss. 1. The pot of spent tulips. Let the foliage die back completely either in the pot or you can plant them permanently outdoors as long as temps are above freezing. Just pull out the whole root ball and bulbs and plant it deep enough so the bulbs are 5-6 inches below the soil line. Choose a spot that does not get excessively wet in the summer. It is important to let the foliage die back so the bulb can replenish itself for next year’s bloom. . If you keep the bulbs in the pot then you can store them through the summer and plant them in the fall. Forced tulips use up so much energy out of the bulb that sometimes they may not rebloom right away and they should not be forced again.
    2. When forcing tulips start with new bulbs(no parrot, cottage or species). Plant them in moist soil mix, cover the pot with foil or plastic and store the planted pot in the frig . Keep the soil slightly moist-not wet. Tulips require a cold period(35-45F) of 12 weeks at which time they will develop a root system and yellowish sprouts. They then can be brought out to warmer temperatures(60F) and indirect light to green up. From this point it should take 2-4 wks to bloom which will last 10-14 days.

13. 

    Lisa

    2/14/2008 at 7:50 pm · Reply →

    I received a potted tulip for Valentine’s Day. Can I transplant the flower into an outside pot now? Or, should I leave it in the pot it’s in and plant the bulbs next year? If so, do I need to put the pot outside or leave it inside? Does it need full sun, or shade??? I live in south Georgia if that’s any help. Right now the flowers are beautiful and I would love to keep them as long as possible. Thanks
    Lisa

    The life span of potted tulips is at best 2 weeks given the right conditons. It is best to keep them in a cool place away from direct sunlight. I would leave them in the pot as transplanting right now will only shorten the lifespan of the flowers. You can put them outdoors if temperatures are above 40 degrees. Tulips are considered an annual bulb in the South because the summers are too wet for them to stay in the ground and the winters are not cold enough. One things you can try is after blooming, let the foliage grow until it dies back. Store the bulbs in a cool dry place during the summer. In Sept. place the bulbs in the refrigerator and chill them for 8-12wks. This will simulate the cooling period that tulips need in order to bloom. Plant in the ground in Nov. adding bulb booster to the soil and hopefully they will have enough energy to rebloom. Potted tulips use up a lot of energy to bloom and may not rebloom.

14. 

    Linda Miller

    8/3/2005 at 4:01 am · Reply →

    I would like to use shredded newspaper as a mulch. Can I use the colored paper also or will it hurt my plants?

    Research has found that, newspaper print both black and colored are safe to use in the garden because of the soy based inks that are used. The colored shiny paper from inserts or magazines may contain unsafe chemicals in the ink as well as the paper that is bleached with dioxin. Newspaper mulch can help control weeds, conserve moisture and minimize soil erosion. Because it is inert, it will not improve the soil and as with most mulches, it will deplete the soil of nitrogen when it finally decomposes. There are many alternative choices eg: straw, untreated grass clippings, leaves, wood chips…