Fringed Tulip Tulipa 'Fringed Beauty' (7)

Water

Fringed Tulips should be watered deeply immediately after planting, and then only sparingly until the shoots appear, as they prefer to be kept on the drier side initially. Once growth is apparent, increase watering to about an inch of water weekly, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. During the growing season, especially when flower buds appear, ensure consistent moisture, but avoid overwatering which can lead to bulb rot. After blooming, reduce watering, allowing the soil to become dry between watering. Aim for a total of about half a gallon per square foot per month during active growth periods.

Light

Fringed Tulips thrive in a spot with full sun to light shade, meaning they need direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. They should be planted in an area that receives early morning or late afternoon sunlight, which is less intense and beneficial for the blooms. Avoid densely shaded areas, as insufficient light can lead to weak stems and poor flowering.

Temperature

Fringed Tulips prefer cool temperatures and are hardy in conditions as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps initiate blooming. The ideal temperature range for growing Fringed Tulips is between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and cooler at night. They can survive brief periods of colder weather but should be protected from hard freezes and temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which can affect their bloom cycle.

Pruning

Pruning Fringed Tulips involves removing the spent flower heads to prevent seed production, which can conserve the plant's energy. Deadhead the tulips as soon as the blooms fade by cutting the stem close to the foliage. Avoid pruning the foliage until it has fully died back naturally, usually by late spring or early summer, as the leaves provide energy for the bulb to produce next year's bloom. Pruning is only needed annually after flowering has finished.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Tulips require well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH of around 6.0 to 7.0. The best soil mix for Fringed Tulips consists of a blend of loamy garden soil, compost, and sand to improve drainage. It is important to provide them soil rich in organic matter.

Repotting

Fringed Tulips, being a type of bulbous plant, do not require repotting in the traditional sense. Instead, tulip bulbs should be lifted and divided every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding and to maintain vigor.

Humidity & Misting

Fringed Tulips prefer average humidity levels while actively growing, but as bulbs, they have no specific humidity requirements when dormant. During their growing season, normal outdoor humidity is usually sufficient.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Grow in well-lit area, cool temp, let soil dry between waterings.

• Outdoor

  Plant bulbs in fall, full sun, provide well-draining soil.

• Hardiness zone

  3-8 USDA

Life cycle

The Tulipa 'Fringed Beauty', commonly known as tulip, starts its life as a bulb, planted in the fall just before the ground freezes. In spring, the bulb sprouts and a stem with leaves and a single flower bud emerges, taking energy from the stored nutrients in the bulb. The bud blooms into a distinctive fringed flower, usually from late April to May, depending on the climate. After flowering, the tulip petals fall away, and the plant enters a period of photosynthesis, where the leaves collect energy from the sun to replenish the bulb for the next season. Once the leaves yellow and die back, the tulip plant goes dormant for the summer. The cycle starts anew when temperatures cool, and the dormant bulb prepares for the next growing season’s sprout.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring

• The most popular method of propagating a Tulip 'Fringed Beauty' is through bulb division. Tulips reproduce primarily by producing offsets or bulblets that are genetically identical to the parent bulb. The best time to propagate tulips by bulb division is in the late summer to fall, after the foliage has died back and the bulbs have entered dormancy. Gardeners should carefully dig up the bulbs, brush off any soil, and gently separate the bulblets from the mother bulb. It is important to ensure each bulblet has a portion of the basal plate to generate roots. Once separated, these bulblets can be replanted immediately at a depth of about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters), spaced around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) apart in well-drained soil with adequate sun exposure. The bulblets will typically flower after a year or two of maturation.