Tulips That Lose Their Petals

Wind

• With their large blooms on relatively thin stalks, tulips don't fare well in wind. Even a mild windstorm can knock tulips around so much that their petals fall off. You can't stop the wind, but you can locate your tulips to keep them from getting windblown. Learn the direction of your area's prevailing spring wind and plant your tulip bulbs so they are protected from it. Planting along a fence or near a tree can help keep your tulip petals attached to the plant.

Age

• Unfortunately, tulips don't have long-lasting blooms like daffodils or some other bulbs. Once the buds open, your tulip blooms will last a couple of weeks at most. The petals will spread further and eventually fall off the plant. This is completely natural and signals that the tulip is preparing to enter dormancy. Trim off what remains of the flower, leaving the stem and leaves intact. The leaves will continue to produce food for the bulb so it can bloom again next year.

Food and Energy

• Tulips will have the strongest and longest lasting blooms if properly fed. First, never trim your tulip leaves until they have completely withered. The leaves photosynthesize after the bloom fades and send energy to the bulb. Cutting the leaves back robs the bulb of this extra power. Second, feed your bulbs at the right time. As soon as you see your tulips growing in the spring, provide a fertilizer specifically intended for bulbs.

Planting Properly

• Planting your tulips at the right time and the right depth will increase the strength of the bulb. The best blooms come from strong bulbs, so proper planting improves the life of your tulip blooms. Plant your tulips bulbs in the fall sometime during October and November when the ground is still dry and workable. A general rule of thumb is to plant your bulbs to a depth that is four times the size of the bulb. If your bulb is 2 inches long, plant it 8 inches deep. This protects them from winter temperatures and encourages strong roots and sturdy stems.