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Hyacinth Plant

Q.Tulip Division

Anonymous added on April 13, 2014 | Answered

Is it true that tulip bulbs need to be dug periodically to avoid all bulbs turning a predominant color of red or yellow? Heard this many years ago. And for some reason, I seem to have a lot of red and yellow tulips in my garden. I have planted several different colors over the years, some of which only bloomed 1 year and then nothing.

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Nikki
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Answered on April 13, 2014

I have not heard that about the colors, and don't know if it's true, but I have heard that tulips can change to white. There is a virus that causes a tulip to bloom with white streaks. This is called breaking. It can get bad enough to overcome the color of the bloom. Another possibility is that the red or yellow tulips are hardier than the other tulips. This is not unusual for tulips. The hardier tulips may be naturalizing (spreading) while the other colored ones are dying back. This would make it look like they are changing the colors. Dividing or digging up your tulips does help with their blooming though. These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/dividing-tulip-bulbs.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-bloom-every-year.htm

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