How to Care for Ready-to-Bloom Tulip Pots & Baskets

Our Ready-to-Bloom Tulip bulbs are intended to be displayed outdoors in spring. Upon arrival, carefully remove the packing material. You may find pale, tender leaf tips emerging from the potting mix; these will green up once exposed to sunlight. In some cases, the growing medium may be partly frozen, and this is not harmful to your bulbs. Once thawed, gently press down loose soil and brush off any excess, leaving up to an inch of space from the top of the pot to accommodate watering.

Set the Tulip bulbs in a sunny location outside. A semi-protected spot near the house—on a porch, patio, or front stoop—is ideal. Bulbs have everything they need to grow and bloom (fertilizer is unnecessary) and have been pre-chilled for the right amount of time. They will endure spring’s freezing and thawing temperatures, and precipitation, with minimal care. Water when the potting mix feels dry to the touch. If there is a basket, we recommend removing the pot before watering if possible, giving it time to drain before replacing it in the basket.

Please note that the growth of the bulbs will be slower in colder temperatures and faster in warmer temperatures. Bulbs usually begin blooming 4-6 weeks after arrival.

We have found that most Tulips do not rebloom reliably after being forced. We treat our forced Tulips as a one time show and generally compost after blooming. If your Ready-to-Bloom bulbs include Muscari, the bulbs can be planted outdoors in regions where they are hardy, typically to Zone 4. When replanting, set the bulbs in the ground at the same depth as they were growing in the pot. After planting, allow at least a year before you can expect the bulbs to flower again. /p>