Many of us are accustomed to consider the tulip "flower March 8." Yes, this is a low, grassy plant with wide, oblong leaves with a wavy edge and very delicate petals can often be seen on greeting cards and in the hands of men who rush to give them to women. Almost everyone loves tulips. The decorative look and the most diverse color of the petals can not fail to attract. Therefore, about how to properly care for and grow this flower in my area we will talk in this article.
The rate of water for tulips, how to water the flowers
You can often hear that a tulip is a very unpretentious flower, a perennial plant that does not require special care. By and large this is true, however, it is worth remembering that, like any other plant, it still needs some attention. Tulip belongs to the bulbous form, and like most of these plants likes moist soil, therefore watering is very important for it.
Of course, in most cases, the flower grows in open ground and inexperienced growers think that natural moisture is sufficient for it, but it is not. In especially dry weather, a tulip requires abundant watering, which will be one of the best steps in caring for a flower. It is especially important to water the tulip during budding, flowering and two weeks after flowering. The rate of water for irrigation is about 10-40 liters per square meter, but it all depends on the weather and the soil on your site.
Important! AThot weather nDo not allow water to fall on the leaves of a tulip, it can cause burns.
Tulip fertilizer features
Care for tulips in the spring at the cottage implies a proper and high-quality procedure for feeding the plant. Many gardening magazines in articles on the cultivation of tulips say that you need to fertilize a flower once, in early spring, using eco-fertilizers. In fact, this is a myth, because experienced gardeners have long been convinced of the need for feeding in 2-3 stages.
When and how to do the first feeding
The first dressing is carried out when the snow melts and the first shoots appear (most often it is called “dry”). All you need is to simply spread fertilizer over the snow.
It is possible that choosing a dressing in the store, you will be wondering "What is the best way to fertilize tulips in early spring?". When answering it, it should be remembered that during this period flowers require a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus. As an additional element, you can choose potassium. The best ratio for such feeding will be 2 parts of phosphorus, 2 parts of nitrogen and 1 part of potassium. Fertilizer is applied in a small amount of 40-50 grams per square meter.
How to feed the plant a second time
Most gardening magazines offer a huge amount of advice on growing tulips, paying attention to the fact that these The plants are especially sensitive to external factors during the time of budding and flowering, and therefore during this period special attention should be paid to fertilizing and care. As you already understood the second dressing should be carried out during the budding period. At this time, the nitrogen content should be lower, and phosphorus and potassium - higher. So, fertilizers should be used in proportion: 2 parts of phosphorus and potassium and one part of nitrogen. You can take soluble vitamins (3 liters per square meter) or dry (60-70 grams per square meter).
How to care for tulips during flowering
If you want to know how to grow tulips, then you need to thoroughly examine the question "How to care for tulips in the spring at the cottage?". A very important factor in this care is the removal of weeds, because it is in them that many bacteria live that can harm flowers. Also, many gardeners recommend an additional spring dressing of tulips.
Did you know? Additional fertilizer should be carried out only by those compounds that do not contain nitrogen, since during the flowering period it can dry the plant.
It is very important to water the plant plentifully in dry weather, because during the flowering period it needs much more moisture to make the flower look brighter and richer. An important element for the health of the tulip and integrated care for him, it is important to timely loosen the soil. It is best to start this process after the removal of the "winter shelter", and continue until the leaves close up. Loosening helps the plant to "breathe", but it is worth remembering that due to the rapid growth there is a serious likelihood of damage to the tulip.
Important! When watering a tulip during flowering, you should make a liquid so that it does not fall on the leaves and flower.
Many can not wait to cut the tulip, which is asking in the vase, but you need to properly perform this procedure. So, the leaves should be left below, and for cutting you can use only clean tools, otherwise the plant will fall ill.
Digging and storage of bulbs
In order to know everything about tulips, about the rules of planting and caring for them, first of all you need to understand which planting material is better suited for planting. The bulbs can be bought, and you can harvest yourself. If you decide to prepare planting material in an independent order, after the tulip has flowered, you need to be very careful, trying not to damage, dig up the most developed flowers and carefully inspect the bulbs. A healthy bulb has a dense texture, it is smooth and slightly shiny. Such specimens spread in a container in a single layer and air several days in the fresh air. Then, the tank is moved to a place where the temperature is kept at + 22 ° C. After two weeks, the bulbs are cleaned of the crust and earth and stored until planting (late September-October) at a temperature of + 15 ... + 17 ° C.
Did you know? If you place the bulbs in a container so that they do not touch each other, the risk of rotting will be much lower.
Tulips reproduction
Tulip, as a bulbous plant, most often propagates vegetatively, but planting seeds is also quite popular, especially if you are just starting to grow these flowers. These two methods have some common features, but there are fundamental differences.
How to grow tulips from seed
Tulips are very common in our territory, so each gardener selects for himself an individual way of planting and caring for a flower in the open field. For beginners, growers are recommended to grow tulips from seeds. It's pretty easy to do. Seeds can be bought, but you can also collect from the bud, which has already faded. In order for the flower to be bright and large, it is necessary to wait until the seed fully ripens, becoming red. 
You need to store the seeds until the cold, in a period of rest, placing in a dry place with normal room temperature. Then they are planted in the soil, in a pot, or in a seedling box to a depth of 3-4 cm. You can also germinate in the refrigerator, leaving them between two wetted napkins. Meetings appear on average in a month. Sprouted seeds should be sown in boxes, fenced with a low fence, in a mixture of humus and soil, sprinkle sowing from above with sand. Such seeds do not need any shelters. They germinate very slowly and only by the autumn can we see a few new roots.
Did you know? Land for planting need to take only fresh, but in any case not last year.
Vegetative reproduction of tulips
The first weeks of October are considered to be the best period for planting bulbs. Given the fact that the plant rooting period is 35-40 days, before the first frosts begin, it should already pass. Plant the bulbs in the ground, fertilized and moistened. The depth of planting is determined by the size of the bulb: the larger it is, the deeper it needs to be planted. Bulbs are planted at a distance of 1.5-2 centimeters, and their rooting should be expected after 10-15 days.
Important! The rooting process will be faster if the soil is promulgated with humus a few days after planting.
Very important is the fact that such planting material does not like to be exposed to direct sunlight, therefore, after planting, it is better to shade it a little. When the first signs of soil drying appear, it is necessary to water the bulbs moderately.
As you can see, the tulip, although it is called the "royal flower", does not put special demands to the kukhod. Just a little care and your garden will delight you with a beautiful view and a pleasant, light aroma.
