Preserving tulip bulbs after forcing for March 8

There's probably no other flower as strongly associated with the arrival of spring as tulips. After all, these bulbous plants are traditionally given to all women on March 8th. Tulips have even become a symbol of this holiday.

That's why many gardeners, on the eve of International Women's Day, are forcing tulips for March 8th to ensure they bloom earlier than usual. But how do you preserve tulip bulbs after forcing them for March 8th to ensure the plants continue to grow?

Principles for preserving tulip bulbs after forcing by March 8

There are varieties of tulips that are dwarfed. In these cases, when forcing, the plants are cut off from the flowers and the leaves are not left on the bulbs. In these cases, the bulbs are dug up for storage.

If tulip variety If the tulip has long flower stalks, there's no need to dig up the bulb. Continue watering the plant and provide it with maximum light. Keep the plant in these conditions until all the leaves turn yellow. In such cases, some tulip varieties produce large, vigorous bulbs, as well as large offspring.

Once the bulbs have been dug up, they need to be given time to dry. Tulips should be dried at a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius for 14 days.

After this time, drying continues, but for a month at a temperature of 17-20 degrees Celsius. Then, before planting the bulbs in open ground, they should be kept at a temperature of 14-15 degrees Celsius. This temperature range is optimal for preserving tulip bulbs after forcing them for March 8th.

After forcing on March 8th, tulip bulbs are planted outdoors at a time that's typical and suitable for this plant. There's no point in continuing to grow the bulbs used for forcing, as they won't grow large. It usually takes a year for these bulbs to mature.

Forcing mode

When it comes to forcing tulips, it should be noted that they are transferred for forcing 3 weeks before the start of flowering; those tulips intended for forcing should be placed in a heated room.

The earlier the forcing process occurs, the longer the period of time should be between moving the flowers from a cool place to a warm room or vice versa. What can be done? mixed vegetable plantings, schemes.

The plant should be moved to a warmer location when the first shoots reach 5-8 centimeters. Rooted bulbs should be kept in containers in a room with a temperature of 12-15 degrees Celsius. During the first few days, the plant should be kept in dim light.

If the tulip seedlings haven't grown enough yet but have already been moved to such a room, they should be additionally covered with cone-shaped paper covers that block out light. To prevent the tulips from dying, the paper covers should be removed periodically to allow the flowers to air out and breathe.

After 4 days, the room temperature should be 18-18 degrees Celsius, and there should be more light. Therefore, it is recommended to provide additional lighting for the tulips. As soon as the buds begin to open, reduce the room temperature to 14 degrees Celsius.

During forcing tulips They need daily watering and are also fertilized with calcium nitrate. Tulips should not be kept in containers in direct sunlight, as this will shorten their bloom time.

Knowing how to preserve tulips after forcing them for March 8th, as well as the forcing schedule, can help you extend the life of your flowers and enjoy their beauty for a long time to come. After all, it's always nice to see a bouquet of tulips on your table, even on a normal, non-holiday day.