My tulips are starting to bloom and don't quite look like the ones you would buy at the flower shop... Did I do something wrong and/or is there a way to better it next time? It looks ok but just not as perfect as the flower shops are. I did use the bulb fertilizer stuff when I planted the bulbs. Maybe I just bought some bad bulbs?

 

Well, they weren't raised in a greenhouse and tended to perfection as were the ones in the flower shop. Plants are natural and tend to take on a natural look of variation and variability in nature. What is wrong with yours?

 

Diyaddict,
I was never able to grow picture book flowers except on some tree roses when japanese beatles were not around. After many years of fertilizing, chemical treatments and correcting the soil pH and time spent in the care of my garden, it just got to be too much without no satisfaction. So then I decided to try artificial flowers and I am glad I did. They look just like the picture book flowers you see in catalogs. Just set them in the ground and you got perfect blooms all summer and no work and no expense. Just a thought.

 

Yes, please tell us what isn't right about your tulips.
Right now all I have are daffodils and hiacynths blooming. My tulips have another few weeks before they bloom.

 

Here's a photo of my tulips if it helps any.



I've realized, there are different types of tulips to buy...I forgot what kind I bought. Anyhow now I feel a little better being the fact that they just don't come out as good as pictures right? Never thot of buying plastic ones but that's a good idea! Probably wouldn't b/c the neighbors might ask and then I'd have to tell them they are fake. If I did that, I'd probably buy fake grass too...but I'm thinking natural is better right? Maybe there's nothing wrong with mine...maybe I expected too much?

 

Looks like something has been feeding on leaves. Aphids tend to settle on bottom side of leaves, on stems, and buds. They suck out plant juices and leave brown patches on leaves. Leaves often curl and flowers may be deformed. Often you can knock aphids off with water hose, but spraying both sides of leaves with malathion will knock them in the head. Look for tiny (about 1/8") insects from white to yellowish to brownish on leaves.

 

Diyaddict,
< Never thot of buying plastic ones but that's a good idea! Probably wouldn't b/c the neighbors might ask and then I'd have to tell them they are fake. If I did that, I'd probably buy fake grass too.>
Don't get plastic. Its the silk plants and flowers that look better then real. The only thing real in my garden now is a tree rose and my lawn is real. If the japanese beatles do a job on my blooms this year, I am going to pull the tree rose out. It cost to much time and money only to have bugs win the war. You can do everything one can on your property but neighbors may not do the same and you get their bugs and animal visits.

 

Treating lawn for grubs will eliminate Japanese beetles produced in your lawn. The only beetles will be those that fly in from the neighbor's yards. These can usually be managed quite well with insecticide spray.

 

Twelvepole,
I treat every year twice for grubs. I'll try insecticide and see what happens.

 

The tulips in the photograph look the same as mine do in the evening when they close for the night.