Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Species tulips in pots over summer

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
in Plants
Does anyone know which summer option is better for pots of species tulips, once the leaves have died back? (I'm leaving them in their pots)
- leave them outside to bake in the sun?
- tuck them away in the shed once the soil has dried?

Or does it make no difference at all?

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Dunno but I'm leaving mine outside. They're not the small species ones, they're T. viridiflora "Purple Doll" and "Dolls Minuet". I read that they're supposed to be perennial but we'll see.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Very much perennial here, @JennyJ.
    @borgadr, in the wild they would bake in the sun, so probably best to try and emulate that.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Good to hear, thanks @punkdoc . They've had a feed while the foliage was dying down (surprisingly quick to die off) so I'll leave them in their containers and see what happens. If I remember I might move them up against the house for shelter over winter.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks @punkdoc and good point. I'll leave them out in a quiet sunny corner
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Mine have always stayed out - just like the ones in the borders. Species tulips will also multiply if happy.
    If you're keeping them potted, just do the usual think of feeding a little as they die back, and be aware that they do need moisture early in the year as they start to grow away, so in dry areas they might need some help.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Fairygirl said:
    Mine have always stayed out - just like the ones in the borders. Species tulips will also multiply if happy.
    If you're keeping them potted, just do the usual think of feeding a little as they die back, and be aware that they do need moisture early in the year as they start to grow away, so in dry areas they might need some help.  :)
    Thanks @Fairygirl - yes, I deadheaded, watered and fed a couple of times, then let the soil dry once the leaves died back. I'll probably move them somewhere sheltered for winter and water as needed rather than leave it to the rain - with our trend towards wet winters I worry more about them rotting than drying out.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - I shelter mine as it's easier for them to get far too wet in pots - easier if they're in a suitable site in the ground.  Against a house wall is usually fine   :)

    I had the opposite problem with some this year as it became very dry after I brought them out to their positions, and they struggled. Typical! I've planted them out instead - with the way things are going, pots might be too much of a problem in future.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    borgadr said:
    Thanks @punkdoc and good point. I'll leave them out in a quiet sunny corner
    I do exactly that they’ve always come back for me. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.