Ask A Floral Pro - Texas State Floral Association Online

Ask A Pro

The Texas State Florists' Association has established an "Ask A Pro" link to the website. Please E-mail your floral related questions to AskAPro@tsfa.org and we will post the answers this page.

Question: Can spring bulb plants (tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, paperwhites) be planted in the garden to rebloom later?

Answer: Spring bulbs will bloom indoors for up to 2 weeks. After which, remove expired blooms and continue to maintain plant in a cool area until foliage has matured. The bulb plant can then be planted outdoors in the late spring. Bulbs should rebloom in 1 to 2 years during the regular spring flowering season.

Question: How do I get my Potted Tulips to bloom again?

Answer: Tulips need 15 weeks of temperatures blow 48 degrees to vernalize, which is flower initiation in bulbs once their cooling requirement has been met. In most climate zones of Texas, we do not consistently have enough cold temperatures to naturally vernalize tulips. Therefore, they will not bloom again naturally in your landscape. Your could vernalize them yourself by cutting off the tops and putting the pots in your refrigerator to meet their cooling requirement. Do this in early Fall to have them ready for next Spring.

Question: If I plant my Easter Lilly in my yard, will it bloom again?

Answer: Please see Q/A above regarding Potted Tulips. In addition, Easter Lillies require less cooling to vernalize than Tulips, but again, most climatic zones of Texas do not consistently provide enough cooling to adequately vernalize Easter Lily bulbs.