Methods for growing tulips at home
For most women, knowledge about growing tulips at home, the methods for cultivating tulips in the home environment, will be introduced by the editor of this site.
The difficulty in growing tulips is mainly due to the need for a cool summer climate during the bulb cultivation process, which is not suitable for most areas in our country. Planting a bulb and growing it to bloom at home is not difficult, and if well cared for, it can bloom again the following year.
Why not try planting a pot? When choosing bulbs, select those with a diameter of 4 centimeters or more, which means a circumference of 12 centimeters or more, full and robust bulbs, to ensure blooming. You can purchase bulbs of different colors to plant together. Most commercial bulbs have been treated with low temperatures of 4°C to 5°C, and can bloom in 60 to 70 days after planting. The right time to buy bulbs should be chosen; if you want them to bloom around New Year's Day or the Spring Festival, you should buy them in September to October, but heating and additional lighting are needed after the leaves appear.
It's best to buy bulbs from late October to November at home, allowing them to grow roots in winter, leaves in spring, and bloom from April to May, following the natural environment for easy care.
Tulips prefer a warm and humid winter, a cool and dry summer climate, love sunlight, and can tolerate semi-shade. The suitable growth temperature is between 15°C to 20°C, bulbs can tolerate -35°C in winter, and leaves will wither at 30°C in summer. The potting soil should be kept moist during the growing period, avoiding waterlogging. They thrive in loose and fertile sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7. Using all-element compound fertilizer or humic acid liquid fertilizer is better.
Cultivation Tips
October to November: Bulbs can be planted in pots with a diameter of 10 to 20 centimeters. Add a 3-centimeter thick layer of charcoal, brick, stone chips, or ceramsite as a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, and fill with loose and fertile neutral soil. Make sure to use new soil, as old soil that has grown lily plants or bulbous flowers cannot be used to prevent virus and nematode infections. Pots with a diameter of 10 to 15 centimeters should have 1 to 2 bulbs, and pots with a diameter of 18 to 20 centimeters should have 3 to 5 bulbs. Plant the bulbs with the top level with the soil surface. After planting, keep them in a shaded place for 3 to 5 days, water thoroughly, and then place them in a cool outdoor area. Water when the top 1 centimeter of potting soil is dry.
December to February of the following year: In cold weather, wrap the pots with Styrofoam and place them in a sunny and sheltered area outdoors. Roots can grow at temperatures above 5°C. Water only when the soil is dry, and water thoroughly. March to April: Sprouts appear in March. At 15°C to 18°C, it's the vigorous growth period for stems and leaves, and should be placed in the sun. Water with a 1% all-element compound fertilizer once a week. Spray the leaves with warm water once or twice a day. After the flower buds appear, frequently sprinkle water around the pot to increase air humidity. April to May can bloom.
May to June: Generally, the plant can be discarded after flowering. In mountainous and plateau areas, there are favorable conditions to continue caring for them. In general areas, for plants that bloom around the Spring Festival, there are more than two months of suitable growing periods after flowering, and if interested, you can continue to care for them for another year. The method is: after the flowers wither, cut off the flower heads, retain the flower stems to transfer nutrients to the new bulbs. Place the pot in a cool, well-ventilated, and sunny area, and water with a 1% all-element compound fertilizer solution every 10 days to promote the growth of new bulbs. Even after the leaves wither, keep the potting soil moist for about half a month.
July to September: Stop watering and fertilizing, and place the bulbs in a cool place to hibernate. In October, dig out the bulbs. If the new bulbs have a diameter of 3 centimeters or more, they can be replanted, following the initial planting method for bulb care, and can expect to bloom again in the following April. It takes 4 years to bloom from planting. Small bulbs can also be used for propagation, but in most areas of our country, there are no natural conditions for propagation. If you enjoy them, you will need to buy bulbs every year.
The above introduction provides specific details on how to grow tulips at home, hoping to bring some floral knowledge to flower enthusiasts.