Why Tulips Leaf But Don't Bloom

Planting Too Late

• As with crocuses and daffodils, tulips are considered spring bulbs. This refers to their bloom time, not their planting time. For spring bulbs to flower, they need to go through a period of dormancy signaled by a drop in temperature in the winter. When the weather warms in the spring, the plant comes out of dormancy, grows and blooms. For tulips to experience the conditions needed to bloom, plant them in the fall. Tulip bulbs planted in the spring may develop flowers but are much less likely to flower.

Small Bulbs

• The bulb of the tulip is an energy storage center, much like the tuber of a potato plant. Growing leaves and blooming require plenty of energy from a healthy bulb. As tulips grow, they put out small bulbs, which is how a single tulip eventually grows to a clump of tulips after a few years. However, these small bulbs don't store enough energy to grow foliage and flowers, so for a year only foliage will appear as the bulb gains size. For flowers, plant mature bulbs that are at least 1 inch across.

Foliage Maintenance

• You could be to blame for the tulips not blooming. After the tulip blooms, cut off only the flower stalk, not the leaves. The leaves need to stay on the plant to photosynthesize and produce energy. This energy then gets stored in the bulb and provides the fuel for the tulip to grow and bloom the next year. If foliage is cut away before it turns yellow, the bulb is being starved. The tulip will produce leaves the next year but may not have the energy to bloom.

Improper Feeding

• Tulips will do best with a light feeding when they begin to sprout. However, if the wrong type of fertilizer is applied, the tulip won't bloom. A plant food high in nitrogen will give tulips an abundance of leaves but no flowers. For flowers, choose a plant food that has higher amounts of phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. Food specifically intended for bulbs will yield good results.