How to Store Tulip Bulbs to Ensure Pretty Blooms

Tulips are easily one of springtime’s most iconic flowers with their saturated color displays and unique cup-shaped blossoms. As perennials, they do come back each year without having to remove and replant the bulbs. However, some prefer to dig out their tulip bulbs and store them through the summer in order to prevent rodents (primarily squirrels and voles) from feasting on them. You may also need to learn how to store tulip bulbs properly if you purchase them before they’re ready for planting, so we asked a flower expert for her best storage tips.

How to Store Tulip Bulbs 

Whether you’ve dug up last year’s bulbs or purchased new bulbs, it’s important to store them properly to ensure vibrant blooms come spring. Follow this advice from Holly Heider, a floral designer and founder of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers and Hope Flower Farm. 

Step 1: Remove Excess Dirt 

Gently brush off any excess soil from the bulbs with your hands. Do not wash the bulbs with water, though, since this can lead to rotting. 

Step 2: Allow Them to Dry Out

Lay the bulbs out in a single layer in an area that’s dry, well-ventilated, and out of direct sunlight. Allow the tulip bulbs to dry for about one to two weeks. This helps harden the bulbs and prevents mold growth. Discard any bulbs that appear soft, shriveled, or moldy after the drying phase. 

Step 3: Place in a Paper Bag 

Put all your healthy tulip bulbs in brown paper bags, Heider advises. “This material absorbs moisture; plastic bags can cause rotting,” she explains. You can place multiple bulbs in a single bag. Alternatively, a box with ventilation holes can work. 

Step 4: Store in a Dry Environment  

Heider cautions against storing your bulbs in damp, humid spaces. “Ensure a controlled temperature and no dampness. Darkness is also beneficial,” she adds. The ideal storage space could be a basement, garage, closet, or even refrigerator, as long as these spaces aren’t humid or prone to big temperature fluctuations. 

When to Plant Your Tulip Bulbs 

Tulips bulbs are planted each fall. “The bulbs must experience several weeks of temperatures in the 30 to 55-degree Fahrenheit range. If they do not get this cold, your stems will be short and the bloom size will be small,” Heider says. “If you live in warmer regions or your winters are getting less intense, you can buy tulips that have been pre-chilled to ensure excellent quality flowers.”

When to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs 

If digging up tulip bulbs, do so after the foliage has turned yellow and died back. This typically happens in late spring or early summer, about six to eight weeks after the tulips have finished blooming. Remove them gently, being careful to not slice into the bulb itself with your trowel. 

Note that it’s not considered necessary to dig up tulip bulbs since they’re perennials, but some people prefer to do so to prevent critters from eating them. “Also, the bulb’s strength diminishes through the years, and the bloom gets smaller, so replanting makes for a healthy, prolific garden,” Heider says.