The Tulips Are Drooping in My Hanging Basket

Season

• Tulips live for many years, but bloom and hold for a limited time. Most tulips sprout and bloom from spring into summer, then wilt and yellow. Blooms and foliage die back before fall, and disappear for the year. Drooping in late summer to fall means simply that the season is over.

Sunlight and Air

• Tulips need bright sunshine and good air circulation for survival. They won't bloom in still or shaded locations, and wilt and yellow when they don't get at least six hours of sun every day. Move the hanging basket to a sunnier location to perk the flowers up.

Soil and Nutrition

• Tulip bulbs contain some growing matter for the plants but need room, moisture and nutrition to sprout their roots and maintain their foliage. Poor soil and lack of nutrition leads to failing foliage. Plant tulip bulbs in bagged garden loam, potting soil and organic compost to give them good soil quality and use bulb fertilizer in spring for more nutrition. Supplement bulb fertilizer with organic options like bone and blood meal, or fish emulsion.

Moisture and Drainage

• Tulips need adequate moisture to grow, and wilt when they get dry. Maintain a consistent schedule of 2 inches of water every week and check the soil regularly for moisture. Tulip bulbs and roots rot, though, in standing water, which leads to foliage death. Use pots and baskets with drainage holes to keep the bulbs out of standing water.