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.