How to Grow Tulips in Pots
Select the right type of tulip for your needs., Obtain tulip bulbs at least 3 months before you intend to bloom them., Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes., Fill the bottom of the pot with an inch or two of rocks, pebbles, or gravel., Layer...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Select the right type of tulip for your needs.
Avoid giant variations, like Dutch hybrids, unless you have an abnormally large container.
For a standard foot-high pot, go with a variety that grows 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm) tall.
For smaller pots, consider a variety that grows no taller than 10 inches (25 cm) high. -
Step 2: Obtain tulip bulbs at least 3 months before you intend to bloom them.
Bulbs need to be kept cold and dormant for several months in order to grow during warmer spring months.
Pot the bulbs shortly after you obtain them, if possible. , Tulips do not grow well when the bulbs are drenched, so your pot must have drainage holes in the bottom to drain excess water. , Doing so will help keep water away from the bulbs. , You should fill the pot about halfway with soil, and the soil should be loosely packed.
Use potting soil instead of dirt from your garden, since potting soil has less bacteria in it and contains more nutrients to help your flowers grow.
A blend especially designed for tulips will work best. , This step is optional, but it provides another means of drainage and may help prevent your bulbs from getting waterlogged. , Keep the pointed end up.
You do not need to worry too much about how close together the bulbs are since each bulb only produces one stalk, but for aesthetic purposes, you may wish to place the bulbs anywhere from 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) apart from one another. , You should leave approximately one inch between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot. , Once the dormant period has passed, place your potted bulbs in a warm, sunny spot.
Tulips do best with full sun, so place them near a window or in a sunny location on your balcony or patio. , The soil should be moist but never drenched.
Fully saturated soil may cause your bulbs to rot. , Also remove the leaves as they start to die off, but allow the rest of the plant to die back before removing.
This allows the bulb to collect and store energy for next year's flower. , A combination of tulips that grow to varying heights works especially well. , Anything shallower than that will not provide adequate depth for multiple layers. , The layer should be 1 or 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) deep. , Use a potting soil designed for bulb plants for best results. , The pointed end should face upward.
Leave at least a bulb-sized gap in between the bulbs. , Cover most of the bulbs, but leave enough uncovered to see where each bulb is located.
Pack the soil down firmly. , Each bulb of the top layer should rest between the necks of the bulbs from the lower layer. , Leave an inch of space in between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot. -
Step 3: Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes.
-
Step 4: Fill the bottom of the pot with an inch or two of rocks
-
Step 5: pebbles
-
Step 6: or gravel.
-
Step 7: Layer soil over the gravel.
-
Step 8: Add a thin layer of sand over the soil.
-
Step 9: Place the tulip bulbs in the pot.
-
Step 10: Cover the bulbs with additional soil.
-
Step 11: Store your bulbs in a cool place for approximately 3 months.
-
Step 12: Keep your tulips sufficiently watered.
-
Step 13: Once the tulip blossoms start to shed petals
-
Step 14: remove the flower heads.
-
Step 15: Select multiple variations of tulips.
-
Step 16: Choose a pot that is at least 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) deep.
-
Step 17: Layer pebbles on the bottom of the pot.
-
Step 18: Fill the pot with soil until the top of the soil is 8 or 9 inches (20 to 23 cm) below the top of the container.
-
Step 19: Place the bulbs that produce the tallest tulips on top of the soil.
-
Step 20: Cover your first layer of bulbs with more soil.
-
Step 21: Place the next layer of bulbs in between each bulb from the lower layer.
-
Step 22: Cover with soil.
Detailed Guide
Avoid giant variations, like Dutch hybrids, unless you have an abnormally large container.
For a standard foot-high pot, go with a variety that grows 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm) tall.
For smaller pots, consider a variety that grows no taller than 10 inches (25 cm) high.
Bulbs need to be kept cold and dormant for several months in order to grow during warmer spring months.
Pot the bulbs shortly after you obtain them, if possible. , Tulips do not grow well when the bulbs are drenched, so your pot must have drainage holes in the bottom to drain excess water. , Doing so will help keep water away from the bulbs. , You should fill the pot about halfway with soil, and the soil should be loosely packed.
Use potting soil instead of dirt from your garden, since potting soil has less bacteria in it and contains more nutrients to help your flowers grow.
A blend especially designed for tulips will work best. , This step is optional, but it provides another means of drainage and may help prevent your bulbs from getting waterlogged. , Keep the pointed end up.
You do not need to worry too much about how close together the bulbs are since each bulb only produces one stalk, but for aesthetic purposes, you may wish to place the bulbs anywhere from 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm) apart from one another. , You should leave approximately one inch between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot. , Once the dormant period has passed, place your potted bulbs in a warm, sunny spot.
Tulips do best with full sun, so place them near a window or in a sunny location on your balcony or patio. , The soil should be moist but never drenched.
Fully saturated soil may cause your bulbs to rot. , Also remove the leaves as they start to die off, but allow the rest of the plant to die back before removing.
This allows the bulb to collect and store energy for next year's flower. , A combination of tulips that grow to varying heights works especially well. , Anything shallower than that will not provide adequate depth for multiple layers. , The layer should be 1 or 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) deep. , Use a potting soil designed for bulb plants for best results. , The pointed end should face upward.
Leave at least a bulb-sized gap in between the bulbs. , Cover most of the bulbs, but leave enough uncovered to see where each bulb is located.
Pack the soil down firmly. , Each bulb of the top layer should rest between the necks of the bulbs from the lower layer. , Leave an inch of space in between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot.
About the Author
Peter Ramirez
Enthusiastic about teaching cooking techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: