Q.Care of Forced Tulips – Post Blooming
A purchased pot of tulips (in Mo) has bloomed and the petals are dropping now, leaving long, bare stems. How do I care for it to bloom again next year?
Allow the petals and the stems to stay with the pot. Do not but the stem down. As the plant continues to die, the nutrients from the plant will drain down into the bulb. Once the plant begins to dry, you should place the tulips in a dry area like the garage. Do net let the bulbs freeze, if they do the plant will die. To get the plant bloom again, you will be best serve to plant it outside. Getting the plant to bloom again indoors will require a cycle of days in darkness in dark sandy soil, then transplanted into growing soil. outside of a green house this will be very difficult to accomplish. When you're planting outside find a location that squirrels or other animals will not likely reach. Small animals can dig up and eat the bulbs.
The following article shoiuld help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-bloom-every-year.htm
