Store bought potted tulips provide a burst of color and fragrance to any space when they bloom in the spring. But what should you do with the bulbs after the flowers fade? There are several options for getting the most out of your potted tulips even after they have finished flowering.
Let the Leaves Die Back Naturally
The easiest option is to simply leave the potted tulips alone and let the foliage die back on its own. This allows the bulb to absorb nutrients from the leaves and replenish itself for next year’s bloom. Here are some tips for letting the leaves die back naturally:
- Keep watering the pot regularly, but reduce frequency as the leaves turn yellow.
- Move the pot to a discreet location, as the dying foliage will not look very attractive.
- Once the leaves turn completely brown, cut them off close to the base of the bulb.
- Stop watering and let the pot dry out completely.
Letting the leaves die back naturally can take 4-6 weeks. But it requires minimal effort and allows the bulb to focus its energy on developing roots and flowers for next year.
Plant the Bulbs in the Garden
Replanting the potted tulip bulbs in the garden is another great option. This allows you to enjoy them as perennials year after year. Here is how to replant store bought bulbs:
- Wait until the foliage has died back completely before digging up the bulbs.
- Carefully lift the bulbs out of the pot, trying to keep their roots intact.
- Choose a sunny spot in the garden and prepare the planting bed by loosening the soil and mixing in some bulb fertilizer or compost.
- Plant the bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart.
- Water the newly planted bulbs well.
- Apply mulch around the bulbs to conserve moisture and discourage weeds.
- The bulbs will likely not bloom the first year after replanting. But they should reward you with flowers the following spring.
Replanting lets you enjoy the beautiful colors of tulips in your garden year after year. Just be sure to choose a site with good drainage.
Store the Bulbs for Replanting Later
If you don’t want to plant the bulbs right away, you can store them for later replanting. Here’s how:
- Allow the foliage to die back completely after blooming.
- Carefully dig up the bulbs and brush off any remaining soil.
- Allow the bulbs to cure in a cool, dry spot for 2-3 weeks.
- Remove any loose skin or roots from the bulbs.
- Dust the bulbs lightly with an anti-fungal powder.
- Place the bulbs in a paper bag or mesh bag.
- Store the bag of bulbs in a cool (55-60°F), dry spot for 6-8 months.
- Check the bulbs occasionally and remove any that show signs of rotting.
- Replant the stored bulbs in fall for spring blooms.
Proper curing and storage preserves the bulbs in a dormant state until you are ready to replant them. Stored correctly, bulbs can last for several years.
Leave the Pot in a Cool Spot
Here is another simple option if you want to keep enjoying the potted tulips next year:
- Allow the foliage to die back naturally after blooming.
- Remove the spent leaves and stems.
- Move the pot to a cool, dark location like a garage or basement for the summer.
- The cool conditions will keep the bulbs dormant.
- Repot in fresh soil in fall and place back in a sunny spot.
- Water sparingly until growth resumes and blooms appear.
Letting the potted bulbs summer over in a cool spot requires minimal work. Just be sure the pot doesn’t dry out completely.
Force the Tulips Again
Forcing tulips to rebloom indoors is a bit more labor intensive. But it allows you to enjoy the flowers for multiple seasons.
- After the initial blooms fade, cut off the flower stems but leave the foliage.
- Place the pot outdoors in a sunny spot and allow the leaves to die back naturally.
- Once the leaves turn yellow, remove them but leave the bulbs intact.
- Move the pot to a cool, dark spot and allow the bulbs to remain dormant for at least 8-12 weeks.
- After the dormancy period, bring the pot indoors and place it in a bright, 60-65°F room.
- Water sparingly, just to keep the soil slightly moist.
- In 6-8 weeks, growth should emerge and flower stalks will follow.
It can be difficult to get potted tulips to rebloom as well as they did initially. But with proper dormancy and care, you can enjoy a second flush of flowers.
Compost the Bulbs
If you don’t want to keep the potted tulips for another season, you can remove the bulbs and add them to your compost pile once the foliage has died back.
The bulbs will decompose and provide nutrients to the soil. Just make sure to break up the bulbs thoroughly – otherwise they may sprout and self-seed where you don’t want them.
Composting is a simple, eco-friendly way to dispose of spent tulip bulbs. Just keep in mind you won’t get to enjoy them again!
Dry Out and Discard the Bulbs
Another option is to simply let the potted tulips die back completely, then discard the bulbs in your regular household waste.
Here are a few tips for drying and discarding spent tulip bulbs:
- Allow all foliage to turn brown after blooming.
- Remove the dead leaves and stems.
- Stop watering and allow the pot to dry out entirely.
- Once thoroughly dry, remove the bulbs from the soil.
- Dispose of the dried bulbs in your household waste or trash collection.
While not as beneficial for the environment, disposing of the bulbs is simple. Just be sure they are completely dry before discarding to prevent premature sprouting in the landfill.
Give the Bulbs Away
If you don’t want to replant your potted tulip bulbs yourself, consider giving them away to gardening friends, neighbors, or community groups.
Tulip bulbs tend to bloom best in their second season after planting. So you’ll be giving someone else an opportunity to enjoy beautiful flowers with minimal effort.
Offer bulbs to like-minded gardeners who will appreciate these spring-blooming beauties. Schools, nursing homes, and community gardens may also welcome donated bulbs.
Before giving bulbs away, be sure to label them clearly so recipients know what they are receiving. Also include any relevant care instructions.
Return the Bulbs for Store Credit
Some garden centers and nurseries allow you to return spent potted bulb plants, as long as you have the original receipt. They will then provide you with store credit towards future purchases.
Policies vary by retailer, but many offer return credit for bulbs that do not bloom or have finished flowering. If you happen to have the receipt, go ahead and ask your retailer about a return-for-credit on your potted tulips.
This allows you to offset the cost of new bulbs or other items for next gardening season!
Donate Them to Community Gardens
Community and nonprofit gardens often welcome donations of flower bulbs. Consider reaching out to see if any groups in your area would like your potted tulip bulbs.
Many community gardens focus on growing food. But some also cultivate plots of ornamental flowers to create beauty and attract pollinators.
Donating your bulbs helps provide these groups with free materials to create gorgeous spring displays for everyone to enjoy.
Be sure to contact the garden’s coordinator first to confirm they are able to accept bulb donations and will utilize them.
Create Tulip Potpourri
Here’s a creative way to use those spent tulip blooms – dry them to make fragrant potpourri!
Follow these steps:
- Allow the tulip blooms to fade on the stem after flowering.
- Cut the stems and place the bulb flowers upside down on paper towels.
- Allow 2-3 weeks for the petals to completely dry.
- Gently remove the dried petals and discard the remaining base portion.
- Place the dried petals in an air-tight glass container with dried potpourri herbs and flowers.
- Add a few drops of essential oil in your favorite scent, if desired.
- Use the tulip petal potpourri to fragrance your home or as a decorative element in bowls.
Drying the fragrant blooms allows you to continue enjoying their beauty and perfume. Mix with lavender buds, rose petals, lemon verbena, and other herbs for a lovely homemade potpourri blend.
Press or Preserve the Flowers
Preserving the actual tulip blooms is an artistic way to keep their beauty around for months to come. Options include:
- Pressing – Place freshly cut blooms between the pages of a heavy book. Allow 3-6 weeks for blooms to flatten and dry completely. Then frame or display as decorative art.
- Freezing – Seal freshly cut tulip blooms in an airtight plastic bag and place in the freezer for 24 hours. Remove and allow to dry completely, then display in a vase.
- Air drying – Hang bouquets upside down in a dry, dark space. The blooms will dry intact and can be used in floral displays.
- Preserving solution – Use a commercial flower preservative solution to dry blooms according to package directions. The preserved flowers will retain shape and color.
Experiment with different preservation methods to create unique permanent botanical art and decor from your leftover tulip blossoms.
Save Bulbs for Crafts
The dried tulip bulbs themselves can be repurposed for craft projects, such as:
- Painting or decoupage
- Gluing to create artistic wreaths and wall hangings
- Drilling holes to use as bead spacers for jewelry
- Spray painting gold or silver for holiday tree ornaments
- Filling with potpourri for fragrant sachets
Give the bulbs another life by incorporating them into your handmade craft creations. They make particularly pretty additions to spring wreaths and floral arrangements.
Conclusion
Potted tulips from the grocery store or garden center provide an affordable and easy way to enjoy these colorful spring blooms. And there are many options for repurposing the bulbs after they flower. Consider replanting them in the garden, gifting them to other gardeners, or getting creative with tulip craft projects. With a little planning, you can continue enjoying store bought tulips for years to come.