My tulip bulbs keep dividing and don't get larger. What can I do? I planted large tulip bulbs a few years ago. They bloomed once then nothing. This fall I dug them up and found they were really small, with all kinds of bulblets attached. I have cleaned them up. Will dust them with flower sulfur, work in some bulb food and replant. What can I do to increase the bulb size and any pointers on growing the little ones would be great? Thanks.
There can be many different reasons for tulips not blooming.
The article below is an excellent resource for you to pinpoint the issues.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-bloom-every-year.htm
So I've never planted tulips before but I saw some at Home Depot and thought why not. I followed the package directions that said you could plant up till December, so I planted them on Nov. 6. Then I was reading online to find out when they will come up, and I found out that they may need chilling. I live in San Antonio, Texas. Will they get enough chill hours, or have I doomed them to fail? Also, the package didn't mention needing chilling, so maybe they were pre-chilled already. Any ideas or info is helpful. Thanks, Sean.
Your bulbs won't be likely to get enough chill hours in the ground in San Antonio. Unless you are able to contact the company to find out whether the bulbs were pre-chilled, the best option is to dig them up and chill them in your refrigerator for six weeks, then plant them again. You should plant them by late December or early January, so you can use a shorter chilling period than the 12 weeks listed in the below article.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/chilling-flowering-bulbs.htm
How long can I store tulip bulbs in zone 5? The tulips have been stored in my fridge since mid October and I didn't have time to get them planted.
If you have all ready began chilling the bulbs in the frig, you will need to continue to chill them for 16 to 18 weeks total.
Then you can bring them out and pot up to enjoy in this manner.
If you were to take the bulbs out of the refrig now, they would likely become soft and rot.
I have tulip bulbs in my own crisper drawer and will force them in water in a few months.
Here are some links to help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/forcing-tulip-bulbs.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/chilling-flowering-bulbs.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/flower-bulbs-in-water.htm
I cannot find an answer to this question. How much or how little sunlight do planted tulip bulbs need over the winter? I have a long hall runner I was going to throw out but thought to use it over my tulip planter for warmth and shelter from large amount of melting snow. Please advise.
The tulip bulbs underground do not need light, so you can use the runner over them. Just be sure to remove it in the spring in time for the tulips to emerge (whenever they typically emerge in your region).
Winter came early and I didn't get all my tulips planted. Can I plant them in the spring?
I highly recommend that you plant them as soon as possible and if you're lucky enough to get a winter day when ground temperatures are above freezing. Plant them in pots if that is not feasible. Spring will be too late if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. Tulips need to time (about eight weeks or more after planting) to establish a good root system before they send up leaves and flowers. Carrying tulip bulbs over until next fall is not a good idea.
Leftover tulip bulbs (unplanned) - can they be stored for next year?
Try to plant them within 12 months of when they were taken out of the ground. You may want to plant them in pots indoors or plant them outdoors next fall.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/flower-bulb-shelf-life.htm
The tulips we enjoyed while blooming in the glass vase are done blooming. We would like to plant the bulbs in our garden. How do we prepare the bulbs from the vase to the garden? How far back do we need to cut the stem? Do we need to dry the bulb before planting at this time of the year in our moderate (we expect no more frost) climate? Can the bulbs be planted in our garden at all now? If we can plant, do we need to add bone-meal, or other, to the soil? Please advise soonest! Thanks
Tulips can be difficult to re-bloom when they have been forced. It still is worth a try though!
I would remove the bulbs from the water and allow to dry in a cool and dry location.
You can then plant out into the garden this spring.
Here are some links to help you.
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/tulips/tulips-care-and-tulip-planting-tips.htm