Will tulips grow in Houston? (Dallas: refrigerator, to buy, mold)

[Oildog]

I heard they needed a winter season to bloom. Not sure if Houston winter would be adequate.

[houstonfan]

Yes, they need a dormant phase. Will they grow without a long winter like in Tx, I'm guessing they probably won't do well even if they do bloom.
But, you can put the bulbs in the refridgerator wrapped to block out light for several months to stimulate winter. OR, you can buy the blooming plants from a nursery in the spring and plop it into your garden.
Tulips usu wilt very quickly after blooming, and probably even quicker in the TX heat, so I don't know if you want to go through so much trouble for a few days of bloom. There's a reason why nurseries in Tx don't sell too many tulips

[elnina]

I don't recall seeing any, but obviously there are some species that could be cultivated in Houston:
Species Tulips for Texas

Tulips - Hybrid, plant 6” deep around Christmas or in Jan. Due to Houston's warm temperatures, Tulips must be refrigerated at 48 to 55 degrees for 8 weeks before planting. These annuals come in an array of colors, white, yellow, red, pink, purple, lavenders, two-tone, and etc. When Tulip bulbs are finished blooming, remove bulbs from the ground and throw them away. This is important, as bulbs should not be left in the ground over a year as next years bulbs can be affected, and not do well, even if they are new. If temperatures are warm at planting time, it is suggested to not grow them in pots. Teas will have over 30 varieties of Tulips this year.
Watsonia - Bugle Lily, plant 3” deep from Sept. through Nov. Watsonias are a member of the Gladiola family and need to be planted toward the back of the garden. They naturalize well in Houston. The blooms appear in shades of red, peach, white, and pink.
Teas Bulb Advice - Fall Bulbs Sheet (http://www.teasnursery.com/FallBulbs.htm - broken link)

^^ they say: On the coldest, nastiest day of the year, when the temperature is painfully cold and it is raining and breezy, that is the perfect time to plant your tulip bulbs. Plant tulips in the month of January for best results.

[DanielWayne]

Originally Posted by houstonfan

Yes, they need a dormant phase. Will they grow without a long winter like in Tx, I'm guessing they probably won't do well even if they do bloom.
But, you can put the bulbs in the refridgerator wrapped to block out light for several months to stimulate winter. OR, you can buy the blooming plants from a nursery in the spring and plop it into your garden.
Tulips usu wilt very quickly after blooming, and probably even quicker in the TX heat, so I don't know if you want to go through so much trouble for a few days of bloom. There's a reason why nurseries in Tx don't sell too many tulips

Yes we had tulips when I was a kid, and my Mom did this in SE Tx. The weather is identical to Houston.

[crone]

Several nurseries sell refrigerated bulbs in the late fall. Even if you get good results the first year, they have to be dug up, same thing for the next. If we get a hot spell when they bloom, they are gone in the blink of an eye. Buy cut ones, and try to find something that is native to love.
I have that problem with lilac and peonies. Planted lilacs in Dallas and watered with ice every day. Never could get enough cold hours.
Have had good results with freesia.

[Svensk08]

Elnina, the info on growing tulips in Houston is basically correct but unfortunately, Teas Nursery went out of business some time ago. Other locally owned nurseries have tulip bulbs for our area in the fall.

We treat tulips as short-season early spring annuals here -- kinda expensive and not too reliable. Some years they do well and other years not. For anyone looking for spring-blooming bulbs, there are varieties of daffodils and narcissus that naturalize in the garden.

[Cottonmather0]

I have always had good luck with daffodils (especially Dutch Masters). Tulips are more tricky.

Generally, you need to buy your bulbs early in the fall and put them in a paper bag in the refrigerator by October 1, then watch them and move them around every week or so to make sure they don't mold or get mushy.

Put them in the ground on a cold day around New Years Day and fertilize them with bone meal.

Then you MIGHT have some tulip plants come up out of the ground and some of those MIGHT bloom.

I have had some really good years with tulips and some really bad years. Truthfully, it really is a crapshoot.

[EasilyAmused]

One of my neighbors had a ton come up. They put down those "bulb mats." It's incredible.