Plants did not surface this year

We planted about 100 tulips in fall of 2007. Last spring we had a beautiful show. I left the greens intact until they all died out. I fertilized.
This year, we have about 10 survivors. Is there something in the soil that might destroy the bulbs? Our other bulbs are doing well (in the front yard)

Doug says he hasn't a clue because you don't say anything about the growing conditions. Here's a page with the general reasons bulbs don't appear or bloom.

To that you can add small furry rodents that eat bulbs. :-(

tulips and frost

by Richard Green
(kirksville,missouri)

will the frost kill my tulips that have started growing outside?


Doug says that tulips and other spring bulbs are very hardy and will not be bothered by light frosts in the spring. A very hard, deep freeze (Missouri doesn't get those) after the bulbs have started growing *may* hurt buds but generally speaking - bulbs are genetically able to handle a lot of spring cold

not watering tulip bulbs but want annuals

by Annie
(Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)

A little confused by information given. "Don't water"? I want to plant annuals in the area I have tulip bulbs planted. Do I dig up bulbs? When?

Doug says that he's been getting this question a lot lately about tulip care so there's something not getting through (I must not be explaining it properly)

You want to plant annuals. OK fine so far.
You understand that too much water can stop the tulip bulb from producing a bud. OK, good so far

You want to know when to dig the bulb - and the answer to that is when the leaves turn yellow if you want to store them and replant in same area or immediately after blooming if you want to dig and move them to another spot.

How am I doing? :-)

Tulips have lots of green leaves but no flowers

by Pam
(Bethlehem, NH USA)

I have bunches of Tulip Greens but no flowers. Used to have flowers prior 2 years. What is wrong? Bulbs only 3-4 yrs old.

Doug says that you're probably making a few mistakes in growing them.

One useful article is right here about general reasons bulbs don't bloom. It's a stress thing.

What are the stressors? For most tulip growers,it's one of two things.

Watering the garden during the hot summer to keep annuals and other plants above the tulips alive. Tulips do much better when grown hot and dry during the summers.

The second most common problem is not growing the leaves properly - cutting them off too early (before they yellow) or any number of things that stop the leaves from producing energy for the bulb to form a bud.

tulip leaves curling small flowers

by Dianne
(PA)

I have the same variety tulips bought at the same time. One cluster is doing beautifully. 15 feet away I have another cluster that the leaves are small and curled and flowers are small if producing at all. I have this problem in most of my flower beds. Half of my tulips of the same variety and age in a bed are beautiful and the other half look terrible. What causes this?


Doug says it sounds suspiciously like thrips. A small (almost invisible) fly-like creature that gets into bulbs (larval form) and disfigures the flowers/leaves. Particularly bad on bulbs like glads and rarely seen on tulips. My .02 is that you're going to dig up and discard the problem clumps.

But if you're determined to save them - discard all leaves and flowers - do not compost.

You could try diggging them up after the leaves go yellow and treating the bulbs. You're after the larva and eggs so clean the tunics (brown paperly substance) off the bulbs. I have seen two major dusting recommendations - dusting with sulfur dust or diatomaceous earth and let sit in a cool, dry place until fall. Replant. That should do the trick... or not.

This can be a major pest of plants once established.

If they were my plants, also I'd be also spraying neem or insecticidal soap on the good plants 2-3 times a week to wipe out the adults (for several weeks in the spring until flowering is finished). If you use sticky cards in your garden, the color blue works better on thrips than the traditional yellow.

Good luck.

No bloom thisyear; just green leaves

by Harold Benedict
(Pendleton, IN)

What do I need to do to make them bloom next year?

Doug says that he doesn't know what you did this year. But you might try starting to read the articles about how to grow tulips right here - figure out what you did - and then correct that situation to give your bulbs a chance to develop proper buds.

Sorry to sound "not helpful" but without adequate information, there's nothing I can say - and the articles and other questions on this page will give you all the info you need.

Good luck

Only one leaf and no flower on tulip

by Mary
(Chicago, IL)

I have some tulips that produced only one leave and no flower should I just dig them up and get rid of them? What causes only one leave and no flower to happen?

Doug says really weak and really small tulip bulbs will do this. If the bulbs are older and you've had them for a few years, then yes, it's time to get bigger newer ones. If you bought really cheap, discount bulbs and if you're growing them properly in full hot sun with no summer watering, then you may indeed grow them large enough to produce a flower.

no flowers

by Rita
(Cranford NJ)

My tulips are coming up with only leaves..no flowers. What is wrong? The same thing happened last year. They did bloom nicely the year before. Thank you.

Doug says here's an article about the main reasons bulbs don't bloom.

my tulip flowers fell off

by Amie
(Shelbyville, KY, USA)

my tulips are nothing but stems now, i really dont know what happened but i have no flowers!! please help

thank you, amie

p.s. i'm a new-be at tulips!!!

Doug says there's nothing I can do. This happens - the flowers finish off and fall off. They only last a few weeks and then they're done. Read the article here for what to do now

Some tulips flowered others didn't

I have some Tulips that flowered and others that didn't in close proximity of each other. I bought this house 3 years ago and they were already there. The same thing happened last year. Are the bulbs shot ?

Doug says that it sounds as if some of the bulbs aren't happy with how you're growing them or how they have been grown. So in general, I'd either change the way you're growing them (see the articles here on how to grow tulips) or I'd dig them out and start again.

If you don't change the way you're growing, then I suspect this will happen every two to three years.

Tulips disfigured

by Linda
(NE oregon)

tulips coming up look like leaves have been cut across with scissors

Doug says, welcome to the world of deer, rabbits, groundhogs or other critter that enjoys tulip leaves.

Get out the hot pepper sprays or products that contain bitrex (a foul tasting product) and spray regularly if you want to see any flowers.

how to get tulips reblooming after a 'fallow' year.

by margaret
(ontario)

I have tulips that have reliably rebloomed for several years. In fact, last year they were magnificent and seemed to have multiplied substantially. However, this year only a few of them are blooming - but there are lots of leaves from the other bulbs. Did their magnificent display last year do them in? If they don't flower one year, will they rebloom again in subsequent years if the leaves are left to yellow, or is it not worth trying and just replace them?

Doug says they're not blooming because they didn't get the energy into the bulb last year. You don't say how you grew them or what the conditions are so I can only suggest you read the data on how to grow tulips here and make sure all the conditions are right. No water - full sunlight etc to get them to grow properly. So it's about the garden conditions whether they grow or not rather than a every-second-year kind of thing.

But if in doubt, I'd purchase new ones.