Q: Will tulips planted in outdoor containers survive winter and bloom next spring?
-- Sally Meyers, Chicago
A: The best way to overwinter tulips planted in containers is in an unheated garage, where bulbs are chilled enough to break dormancy, yet are protected from repeated freezing and thawing. You also can submerge entire containers directly into garden soil.
If these are not options, you can try to overwinter container-grown bulbs outdoors by moving the largest possible containers to your most protected spot, grouping the containers together so they insulate each other, and surrounding and topping them with mulch or other insulating material.
Tulips and other bulbs need good drainage, so use containers with drainage holes and fast-draining potting mix. Containers placed outdoors year-round are best made of materials that won't crack during winter.
Q: How can I eliminate lily-of-the-valley in an area 10 by 20 feet large?
-- Marilyn Michalek, Glen Ellyn
A: Digging and removing the roots of lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) will help to control an unwanted patch of this creeping perennial. Monitor the bed for new plants that emerge from any remaining root fragments and remove them as soon as possible. This might take repeated diggings, but you can start this month as long as you can still see where plants are growing.
Another approach is using the systemic herbicide glyphosate to kill any unwanted plants. But you need to wait until next spring to spray because glyphosate is only effective when plants are actively growing. Read and carefully follow all label instructions, including the minimum temperature for application.
Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide and will kill any plant whose leaves are sprayed, so it is essential to avoid spraying desirable plants. If unwanted lily-of-the-valley has infiltrated a ground cover you want to protect, use a barely moistened paintbrush or sponge to carefully coat individual lily-of-the-valley leaves. Wearing chemical-resistant gloves coated with nitrile or neoprene is recommended.
Q: When is the best time to dig and divide overcrowded rhubarb?
-- John Nykamp, Niles
A: Early spring while plants are still dormant is the best time to dig and divide rhubarb. Buds found on the crowns of the fleshy roots should be planted 2 inches below the surface of well-drained, organically rich soil in full sun. Spacing plants at least 3 feet apart will allow them to grow undisturbed for a longer period of time.
Regularly fertilized rhubarb plants generally need to be dug and divided about every five years.
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Denise Corkery writes for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Write to: Gardening Q&A, Home&Garden, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4041; e-mail to home&garden@tribune.com.
FAQs
Tulips grown in a pot are subject to more stress than they would be if they were growing in the ground; this makes them unlikely to bloom again next season. If you're wondering what to do with potted tulips after they bloom, it's best to discard the bulbs after they have bloomed and choose new ones to plant next fall.
How do I save my potted tulip bulbs for next year? ›
Set the pots in a cool, dry place in a basem*nt, garage, or shed. Alternately, remove the bulbs from the soil, clean off dead leaves, and allow them to go completely dormant in a paper or mesh bag full of bone-dry coir (coconut fiber) or vermiculite if you have it.
Can I leave bulbs in pots over winter? ›
Keep Bulbs Cold But Not TOO Cold
This means you'll need to store your potted bulbs through the winter in a place that stays colder than 48° F most of the time but that doesn't get as severely cold as it is outside. A simple pot of bulbs can have a dramatic impact.
What do you do with tulips after they bloom in their pots? ›
What to Do With Tulips After They Bloom To Encourage Re-flowering. To encourage your tulips to bloom again next year, remove the seed heads once the blooms have faded. Allow the foliage to die back naturally then dig up the bulbs about 6 weeks after blooming. Discard any damaged or diseased ones and let them dry.
Where should I store my potted bulbs for the winter? ›
Storing Bulbs Over Winter. You'll pack away your bulbs in a cool, dry place. An unheated garage that does not freeze can work well. Just keep in mind the ideal location has temperatures between 35 and 45ºF and relative humidity of about 50%.
Can you leave bulbs in pots all year round? ›
Hardy bulbs can be left in the ground all year round. Those in containers should be fine too, but can be moved into an unheated greenhouse or cold frame in colder regions which are subject to hard frosts.
What to do with bulbs in pots after flowering? ›
You may keep the bulbs in pots after flowering, but it is a good idea to introduce some new soil with all its nutrients and fertilize again. You may also remove the bulbs, let them air dry, and put them in a paper bag in a location with the proper chilling requirements until you are ready to force them again.
Can you reuse potted tulip bulbs? ›
A cheaper alternative is to lift them out of the soil once they've finished blooming for storage, then replant the following autumn. This extra effort will reward you with a much better display than leaving them in the ground and it will keep costs down.
How long can you keep tulip bulbs without planting them? ›
Like most flower bulbs, tulips bulbs can be stored for around 12 months if they are cared for properly. Once you have dug them up, they should be allowed to dry and then stored in a net or bag in a cool dark place. It's easy to check whether your tulip bulbs are still good - they should feel plump, heavy and firm.
Will bulbs in pots come back? ›
The short answer is yes, but some of these bulbs will return better than others. Here are some tips for success: After flowering finishes put these bulbs outside if they have been indoors. Do not cut off the old stems or leaves, but make plans to place them in the ground as soon as possible.
After planting your bulbs you will want to water the pot thoroughly. Keep the soil in the planter or pot moist but not soaking wet all winter to help the root system develop. If the Winter temperatures in your area drop below freezing you will need to move your pots or planters to a protected area.
How do you overwinter tulip bulbs? ›
Let the bulbs cure for a few days in a well-ventilated place on old newspapers or cardboard, then store them in a cool, dark place. Because the bulbs need a consistent cool temperature, for most home gardeners, this place is the refrigerator.
How do you take care of store bought potted tulips? ›
For the longest period of bloom, keep your tulips out of direct sunlight and in a bright, but cool area of your home – never put potted tulips near a heating duct or set them on a radiator. The warmer it is, the quicker they bloom and fade.
How long do potted tulips last? ›
From the time of planting, potted tulips take between 8 and 16 weeks to bloom (depending on when you plant them). Once they bloom, they last approximately 15 to 30 days.
How do I save bulbs to my next year plant? ›
Allow the bulbs to dry for a few days, then store them on paper in a cardboard box. Use a garage or refrigerator to store the bulbs in cool, dark spot, and replant them in compost-amended soil in the spring.
Can potted tulips survive indoors? ›
Growing tulips indoors is a fun and easy project. Enjoy the bright colors of springtime during winter. Growing tulip bulbs in containers is easy. You only need to give the bulbs a drink of water and a place to chill out.
What happens if you don't dig up tulip bulbs? ›
Do You Have to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs? No law requires gardeners to dig up tulip bulbs each year, or at all. In fact, most bulbs prefer to stay in the ground, and, left in place, rebloom the following year.
What happens to tulip bulbs if you don't plant them? ›
The bulbs likely won't bloom this spring, but they may bloom later in the summer, out of their normal sequence, or they may just wait until next year to bloom at the normal time. The other alternative is to force the bulbs into bloom indoors.
Should I remove tulip bulbs from pots after flowering? ›
After flowering, remove the bulbs and plant into the ground before the summer. Leave the foliage intact, but remove any dead flowers so the tulip doesn't waste energy trying to make seed.
What can I do with spring bulbs in pots? ›
Container-grown spring bulbs are usually treated as annuals. If you want to try saving the bulbs, remove the spent flowers and keep the plants growing until the foliage has yellowed. Then dig up the bulbs and either replant them in your garden or store them in a cool, dry place until the next fall.
Store tender bulbs in paper bags, reusable mesh bags, or cardboard boxes with air holes poked in for air circulation. Fill the container with peat moss, sawdust, or vermiculite—enough to cover each bulb by one inch. Make sure the bulbs have enough air circulation to prevent rotting.
What do you do with potted bulbs in the winter? ›
Storing flower bulbs is a matter of allowing the dormant bulb to be safe until it can grow roots and continue its growth pattern. Can you store bulbs in containers? Tender perennial bulbs should be treated this way, by moving the container to a protected cool spot such as a garage, a basem*nt, or a protected porch.
