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Tulips can bloom again every year - if they are fertilized properly. We show what needs to be considered when fertilizing tulips.
For a long time it was thought that bulbous flowers like tulips (Tulipa) could do without fertilization. This may be true for the first few years, but at the latest when all reserves from the soil have been used up, the willingness to flower quickly decreases. Long-lived tulip varieties in particular, which produce numerous flowers every year, should therefore be fertilized regularly so that you can store enough reserve substances in the bulbs for the coming flowering season. Basically, tulips do not have high demands on their location, but if you take good care of your darlings, you are guaranteed to be rewarded with a bright sea of flowers.
To ensure that your tulips do not lose their splendor, you should support their development from the start with an appropriate supply of nutrients. We will explain below when and with what to best fertilize your tulips.
When are tulips fertilized?
Basically, many tulips also thrive in lean locations with well-drained soil. If you want to do something good for your plant, you can mix some compost into the soil when planting in autumn (September/October). This ensures optimal starting conditions right from the start. Depending on the time of planting, the flowers will open in spring between the end of March and the beginning of May. Regular fertilization before and during flowering in spring optimally supports the tulips. Simply work a mostly organic fertilizer lightly into the soil every two weeks. It is best to use an organic fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer. This promotes active soil life and improves the soil structure in the long term.
After flowering, no further fertilizers are necessary. You can give your tulips a last dose of fertilizer in autumn (September). The fertilizer granules are then extracted from the soil by microorganismsdecomposes and provides the plants with sufficient nutrients for some time before they take a well-deserved winter break. Alternatively, you can cover your tulips with a layer of compost. This is not only an ideal winter protection, but also provides sufficient nutrients for new growth in spring after the beginning of decomposition over the winter months.
When are tulips fertilized?
- Incorporate some compost into the soil when planting
- Incorporate a primarily organic fertilizer into the soil every two weeks before flowering
- Last fertilizer application in autumn (September)
- If necessary, cover with compost over the winter
Pro tip: After a few years, the floor can become "tulip tired". It is therefore best to move the tulip bulbs to a different location every few years or provide the bed with fresh soil.
What is the best way to fertilize tulips?
A wide variety of materials and products are available for fertilizing your tulips. Below we explain the advantages of using organic fertilizers and what other options there are for supplying your tulips with nutrients.
Fertilize tulips primarily organically: application recommendation
You may already have some natural fertilizers suitable for tulips at home. It is best to work some mature compost or rotted horse manure into the soil before planting. However, due to the decomposition by microorganisms, the nutrients are only released relatively slowly.
If you don't have your own compost heap, an organic fertilizer with an organic long-term effect such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is an ideal choice. Such a fertilizer is also suitable for fertilizing tulips in pots on the balcony or terrace usually better than compost or manure. In general, there are several advantages to using long-term organic fertilizers.
What are the advantages of an organic long-term fertilizer?
- Long-term nutrient supply for your tulips through ongoing decomposition by microorganisms
- Promotion of active soil life and sustainable improvement of soil structure
- Particularly gentle on plants, animals and humans because no chemicals are used
Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is mainly made from organic plant-based raw materials. The balanced composition of the fertilizer provides your tulips with an optimal supply of nutrients. A high proportion of nitrogen promotes plant growth and leaf formation. Sufficient phosphorus ensures rich blooms over the course of the year and an extra proportion of potassium reduces the frost sensitivity of tulips in the bed. So that you can provide your tulips with the right amount of fertilizer, we have prepared detailed instructions for you below.
Organic Long-Term Fertilization: Instructions & Dosage Amounts for Tulips
- When planting: Work about 100 g/m² (8 heaped tablespoons) of our Plantura organic flower fertilizer into the top soil layers.
- Water freshly planted tulips well so that the granulate can loosen.
- In autumn (September) fertilize again about 80 g/m² (6 heaped tablespoons).
Pro tip: Organic granulated fertilizer can also be dissolved in a little water and given to the tulips over the irrigation water.
Fertilize tulips with minerals
If you have forgotten to fertilize in autumn or spring and the tulips have already started to sprout, many hobby gardeners like to use blue grain, liquid fertilizers etc. to provide the plant with nutrients for a short time. The advantage of mineral fertilizers is that the nutrients are in a pure form and are therefore directly available to the plant. The time-consuming conversion via microorganisms from the soil is therefore no longer necessary. At the same time, the easy solubility of the nutrient s alts also increases the risk of over-fertilization. In the worst case, if the fertilizer is used improperly, it can even wash out into deeper soil layers, where it can lead to contamination of the groundwater. In contrast to mineral fertilisers, organic fertilizers work much more slowly, but they are much gentler on the environment and promote the development of your tulips more sustainably.
Fertilize tulips with home remedies
Dried coffee grounds are a popular home remedy for fertilizing flowers. The actual waste product can easily be incorporated into the top layers of soil. In addition to plenty of nitrogen, coffee grounds also contain phosphorus and potassium. However, you should not fertilize your tulips too often with coffee grounds, as this will lower the pH of the soil into the acidic range over the long term. If you own oneIf you have a stove, you can also use the resulting wood ash as fertilizer for your tulips. This is very rich in potassium, but also contains lime and other important trace elements. In addition, the use of wood ash helps to counteract fungal diseases and rot in the soil.
Only tulips that feel completely at ease will reward you with a rich bloom year after year. You can find more information on the correct care of tulips in our special article.