Gardeners' hearts become heavy when the tulips planted hopefully in autumn refuse to bloom in spring. It is just as devastating when the signs of spring do not repeat last year's blooms. Instead of giving up, explore the possible causes of tulips without flowers here. Benefit from our tips to fix the problem.
Why aren't my tulips blooming?
If tulips don't bloom, the cause may be a lack of strength, the wrong location or vole damage. Regular fertilization, a sunny and protected location and placing the bulbs in vole baskets can help.
Cause number 1: lack of strength
There is a persistent rumor among hobby gardeners that tulip bulbs can survive without any nutrient supply. In fact, the demand is at such a high level that you should definitely give the flowers a hand. Continuous fertilization as part of the care program is just as important as pruning at the right time. You can remedy the lack of strength on tulips without flowers like this:
- After autumn planting, mulch the soil with compost
- When the flowering period begins, fertilize organically every 2 weeks
- Cut off wilted flower cups as soon as possible to prevent the energy-sapping seed growth
- Only cut off the leaves when they are completely dead
If the tulips appeared without flowers this year, please leave the leaves on the plant. The onion absorbs all the nutrients left in it. These reserves give the flower enough vitality to bloom next year.
Cause number 2: Wrong location
If your tulips remain without flowers in the first year, the site conditions do not meet expectations. Choose a sunny, warm and sheltered location for the spring beauties. Also avoid places exposed to wind, as the stems could snap and prevent the buds from opening. Tulipas also prefer a humus-rich, loose soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH value of 6 to 7.
Cause number 3: Voles
If voracious voles roam the garden, your tulip bulbs will not be spared. To ensure that the plants are not left without flowers in spring, the bulbs are placed in the ground using a vole basket (€29.00 on Amazon). You can purchase the close-meshed wire mesh from specialist retailers or assemble it yourself with a little craftsmanship.
Tip
Did you know? Use tulip flowers to brighten up cold and warm dishes in a colorful way. The edible petals are also suitable for sugaring in a mix of egg white and powdered sugar. After drying, dip into liquid chocolate - the sweet treat from Mother Nature's hand is ready.
