16
March | 2022
Feature
In the case of droopy tulips, you can carefully wrap floral
wire around the stems, from top to bottom; keep in mind,
however, that the stems will continue to elongate and bend
toward sources of light. Of course, for a natural or artful look,
downward curving stems may be just what you are after.
Another tulip design trick is to reflex their petals, gently
curving the petals backward, either partially or entirely. is
can dramatically alter the look of the blooms.
Planting Tulip Bulbs
Plant tulip bulbs in the fall for blooming in early spring. Here
are some tips on planting tulip bulbs outdoors and caring for
potted tulip bulbs.
Store bulbs in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant.
e best time to plant them is from late October through
November—or even in December before the ground freezes.
Plant bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep (or about three times the height
of the bulb). Set the bulb in the hole with the pointed end up.
Cover with soil, and press the soil firmly. Be sure to plant tulip
bulbs in a sunny area with well-draining soil (tulip bulbs rot
in standing water). Water bulbs thoroughly after planting,
and then wait the beautiful, colorful blossoms to emerge
in the spring.
Tulips always look their best the first spring after planting.
When soil and growing conditions are ideal, some tulips
may bloom for multiple years, but in most cases, you will get
smaller blooms and, possibly, no blooms at all. For best results,
remove the bulbs from the ground after they finish blooming,
and plant new bulbs each fall.
Tulip bulbs can also be easily rooted and grown in water, in
jars or special bulb-forcing vases. When growing in water,
make sure that only the very bottom of bulb comes into
contact with the water, and then only until roots start to
develop, which can then dangle into the water.
Sourcing Cut Tulips
• Sun Valley Floral Farms; tsvg.com
• Holland America Flowers; hollandamericaflowers.com
• Florabundance; florabundance.com
• Mayesh Wholesale Florist; mayesh.com
Sourcing Bulb Tulips
• Bloomaker; bloomaker.com
• Van Engelen Wholesale Flower Bulbs; vanengelen.com
Renee Tucci, AIFD, CFD, PFCI; Chalfont, Pa.
