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I am very new to plant care and i recently got a garden tulip gifted… | Anything about plants | Planta community

Zandra

I am very new to plant care and i recently got a garden tulip gifted to me, does anyone know what fertilizer to use? And what pot size would be good too?

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8 comments

  1. Sunny

    The one from a florist usually don’t need upsizing to a larger pot. Check to see if it’s root bound by removing the pot. It’s not showing any signs of degradation because of a root bound condition. Repotting too soon can cause root rot. I would use the same pot diameter if you want to replace the plastic nursery pot. Alternatively, you can remove that florist gift wrap pot and replace with a ceramic outer pot for aesthetics. Just take the inner pot out to water. Put it back after the soil has fully drained or the roots could sit in water. Use a fertilizer designed for tulips. They usually have lots of bone meal and blood meal. They are typically timed release fertilizer granules that last for several months. There are DIY fertilizer recipes online. It may not be worth the effort for one plant. Tulips need to go through a cold season. So, the bulbs can be planted outside in autumn and fertilized again if you live in a zone that gets cold. I’ve never kept the bulbs potted all year. I grew up in Michigan where we kept new bulbs in the fridge over winter. Older bulbs were in the ground.

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    • Zandra

      So what you’re saying about the repotting is to jot replace it to a bigger one if the roots aren’t stuck?

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    • Sunny

      Yes, only repot if the roots are overgrown with more roots than soil. The roots have to use up all the water in the soil before you water again. Excess water in too large of a pot can’t dry out if the root system is too small for the new pot. So, the roots decay before the soil dries out.

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    • Zandra

      Ohhh, ok thank you so much

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    • Zandra

      What do you recommend for the cold season, we dont get cold seasons often where im from

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  2. Sunny

    Search online for “How to overwinter tulips.” It’s a multiple step process requiring waiting for the leaves to dry out indicating the new bulb is pulling energy back to prepare for next season. The leaves and roots are removed and the bulbs are cleaned, then, stored in the fridge in a paper bag for at least 12 weeks of cool temperatures that are required to bloom the next year. That’s the basic steps. Also, check the The Holland Bulb Company/Holland Bulb Farms. It’s an iconic bulb company that’s been around before internet was invented. It was started by a Dutch immigrant. It was/is the main source for tulips when I was a child in Michigan. They have a lot of information on tulips and other bulbs. Many articles and videos are available elsewhere online.

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    • Zandra

      Ok thank you so muchh!

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    • Zandra

      I just repotted it because the roots were against the pot i hope it’ll be ok

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