Avatar for Bulbgirlnewbie
Apr 15, 2018 8:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Sf
Hi garden sages,
I received beautiful spring tulip bulbs over Easter which had the most amazing blossoms. I unfortunately cut all of them, inclusive of the leaves, to make a table bouquet. then I read later you are not supposed to remove the leaves from the bulb because they provide nutrition, as they yellow and wither, to allow bulbs to bloom next spring. I would like to do everything I can to try and get my bulbs healthy and blooming next spring. Is there anything I can do to correct my mistake or are my once beautiful bulbs goners? Thank you for your help.
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Apr 15, 2018 9:01 AM CST
Name: kathy
Michigan (Zone 4b)
near St. Clair MI
Cottage Gardener Dahlias Garden Art Heirlooms Lilies Organic Gardener
Zinnias
Hi bulbgirl-and welcome.
What the heck-dig a hole, add a little bone meal, cover and mark their spot, and see what happens. Around here (zone 4b), I consider specialty tulips an annual anyway.
"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing." Shakespeare
Avatar for Bulbgirlnewbie
Apr 15, 2018 9:30 AM CST
Thread OP
Sf
Thank you Katesflowers. Your reply and advice is much appreciated. Since I learned you are not supposed to do that, my bulbs now look like little decapitated heads.
Photo below should read "don't do this at home!"...a mistake I will learn from.




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Apr 15, 2018 1:53 PM CST
Name: Kyle
Middle TN (Zone 7a)
Region: Tennessee Plant and/or Seed Trader Cat Lover Dog Lover Roses Ferns
Hostas Foliage Fan Bromeliad Heucheras Native Plants and Wildflowers Birds
There is a good chance they will come up next spring. They probably won't bloom until the following year though. I wouldn't give up on them. Not sure how many years they will last though. I've had tulips last for years until the voles got them.
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Apr 15, 2018 2:06 PM CST
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Take the bulbs out of the soil/container or whatever they're in and cure them and then store cool, dark and dry untill November or even December. If the soil isn't frozen replant and they should come up in spring. Chances are they won't bloom and be smaller because you cut the leaves. Do this 2 or even 3 years and they should rebloom. Ofcourse you could leave them in the soil outdoors from then on.
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Apr 15, 2018 2:22 PM CST
central Illinois
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
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Most tulip bulbs grown in containers split into 4 bulblets at season's end. You could plant them and do as Arico says, maybe you'd get a bloom in 5 years or so.
Or, you could purchase and plant some yourself. They look kind of like Foxtrot, a double early tulip that is easy to force. Could also be a late double, there's several that look like yours in that division.
Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.
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Apr 15, 2018 3:29 PM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Does your Sf stand for San Francisco? Unless you dig and store them in the 'frig every fall and replant in the spring, you won't have tulips anyway.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

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