After flowering, can I leave my tulips in pots, or do I have to take them up? Is it possible to keep them in the pots if they are undercover and denied water?
Yes, you can leave them in pots. If you plan on trying to get them to bloom again, I would recommend leaving the leaves on and placing it in an out of the way but sunny place until the leaves die. This way the bulbs can store enough energy to bloom again. After the leaves die back, then you can stop the water and place it is a cool place.
You may leave them in the pots. Don't water. Let the leaves turn yellow and die down and then remove those dead leaves. Set the bulbs out in your flower bed in the spring. They probably will not bloom the first year because they have been forced. The following year they will bloom. When you plant them in the ground this allows the bulb to take in nutrients from the surrounding soil. If you want to force some bulbs yourself to bloom indoors, you must plant the bulbs in soil in a pot. cover with saran or a lid so they don't dry out and keep in the fridge for 10-12 weeks. Take them out, water, set in a sunny window and in about 6 weeks they will bloom.
I planted lots of bulbs in layers in 2 very large containers in October. The containers do have drainage. I put bone meal into the soil along with some vermiculite. I thoroughly watered them and then put them into the garage and covered them with foil. The weather did not get really cold for a while, I live in Southern NJ zone 7. In December I noticed that the shafts were growing and pushing up the foil. I cut them off and added a little water. I also wrapped them in bubble wrap in anticipation of really cold weather. Now in mid January I see that more shafts have grown. What should I do to ensure that I still get flowers in the spring?
They need to be colder to keep them from growing. There is not much you can do to stop them. If it is staying warmer than usual, you can remove some of the things you have done to keep them from freezing. Also, cut back the water.
Do not trim them though. While the shafts are growing, trimming them will not stop them and will only deplete the bulb's energy and result in smaller flowers.
The good news is that if it gets cold again, they will stop growing and the shafts will not be damaged. Try to get them colder if you can.
I am growing tulips in a pot and the growth is about two inches above the soil so far. My mischievous parrot climbed on top of the table and snipped the very top of most of the growth, just the very tip! Will they still flower?
As long as the bud was not damaged, they will bloom. I have had deer eat mine right down to the ground and I will still get "naked" tulips that have no leaves. Yours should be ok.
We received several potted, blooming tulips during my father-in-laws funeral in February. I need to store these until I can plant them in the Spring. Can you please tell me how to do this so I don't kill them! Thank you!
Once the leaves have faded (turned yellow), place them, pot and all, in a cool, mostly dry location. A basement or attached garage normally works well. After you place them in the cool place, they do not need to be watered. Leave them there until the ground becomes warm enough to plant them. The snow and cold does not need to be gone. The ground just need to be workable enough to plant the bulbs.
Also, they will not bloom this spring and may never bloom again at all as many tulips are fickle this way. While there is nothing you can do to get them to bloom this spring, this article will help you with getting them to bloom in future years:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-bloom-every-year.htm
Can I leave my tulips and hyacinths in pots?
Yes, both tulips and hyacinths will grow well in pots. Just be sure the pot(s) provide adequate drainage and don't allow them to become too wet or too dry.
I have received potted tulips. After they have bloomed, how do I care for them? I would like for them to bloom early next year.
You can keep them in the pot or transplant them outdoors. These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-care-and-tulip-planting-tips.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/how-to-plant-a-flower-bulb-in-your-garden-after-winter-forcing.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/preparing-soil-for-bulbs-and-fertilizing-bulbs.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/care-of-tulip-bulbs-in-containers-in-the-winter.htm
I just bought (like a month ago) some tulips with this beautiful color. The pot had instructions for care, evenly moist and to place the pot in a well-lit spot. I did this, and the plant is starting to go brown and is drying. What can I do? It's too cold outside.
It is possible that the plants are simply going through their normal die back. You can save the bulbs and try planting them outside. This article will explain more:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/how-to-plant-a-flower-bulb-in-your-garden-after-winter-forcing.htm