How to Take Care of Tulips?

Learn How to Take Care of Tulips and Be Rewarded With Gorgeous Color in Spring

Thanks to their brilliant hues and elegant shapes, tulips are one of the best-loved of all spring flower bulbs. Learn how to care for tulips and they will reward you with a spectacular display in spring. Plant them en masse to paint the landscape with color or combine with other bulbs such as Muscari (grape hyacinth) for a dazzling effect.

How to Take Care of Tulips: Planting

Tulips should be planted in fall between September to December, depending on your location. Tulips need a period of cold to bloom well so if you live in an area with a warm climate, you will need to chill the bulbs in a refrigerator for 8-10 weeks before planting. Plant the bulbs with the pointed ends upwards, 3”-4” apart and at a depth of 8”.

How to Take Care of Tulips After They Bloom

Remove faded blooms to prevent the tulips from wasting energy in producing seed heads. Allow the foliage to wither and die back then dig the bulbs up and allow them to dry. Store in trays or nets in a cool dark place before replanting in fall.

How to Take Care of Tulips in Pots and Containers

In pots and containers, you can plant tulips much more closely than you would in the garden. You just need to ensure that the bulbs aren’t touching as this could cause them to rot. Choose a deep pot and plant in layers, with later blooming varieties at the bottom and earlier ones at the top. After blooming, it’s best to discard these tulip bulbs and plant fresh ones in fall.

Now that you know how to care for tulip bulbs, you just have to decide which ones to plant. Head over to our tulip collection, where you’ll discover tulips in shapes, sizes, and colors to suit every location.