Storing tulip bulbs

Tulips have very hardy flower bulbs and can be stored the easiest by simply leaving them in the ground. If the climate you live in is a lot colder than the tulip bulb's natural environment, the bulb will eventually die so those bulbs in colder climates will need to be stored in a different way, probably inside. But, if the environment is appropriate, the tulip bulb will flower much better than it would if it was dug up and stored inside. However, many traditional gardeners insist that the only way to store tulip bulbs is to dig them up each year.

For tulip bulbs that are outside, special care should be taken so that squirrels don't dig them up and eat them. Squirrels will neglect daffodils as well as many other types of bulbs but will sniff out tulip bulbs and dig them up when they can find them. The only foolproof way to protect tulip bulbs for squirrels is to cover the ground containing the bulbs with wire mesh. The squirrels won't be able to dig through the wire but the holes will allow tulips to sprout up in the spring.

For tulip bulbs that will be stored inside, here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Be sure not to store them in damp or moist conditions. Dampness leads to rotting and tulip bulbs should be dried out before you begin to store them.
• Storing tulip bulbs in the refrigerator is not always a good idea as ethylene can cause some bulbs to become distorted. Ethylene is produced by fruits like apples and grapes. If you still want to store your tulip bulbs in the refrigerator, remove all the fruit and place them in the crisper.
• Store tulip bulbs in a location that provides ventilation to remove excess humidity. Extreme humidity will also cause the bulbs to rot or decay.
• Dry sand, vermiculite, or peat moss make ideal storage mediums for tulips bulbs.
• Don't store tulip bulbs in an area that is susceptible to rodents or pests. Mice, chipmunks, and squirrels will make a feast out of any available tulip bulbs that they happen to come across.
• Damaged bulbs can still be saved with a little bit of care before you store them. Let the tulip bulb dry out all the way and dust the damaged area with a little bit of sulfur which will help prevent any rot from becoming established. Although most damaged bulbs can be saved, they should be stored in another area so that they don't hurt the remaining tulip bulbs.

Other flower bulbs have different methods of care and storage and, if other types of flower bulbs are involved you should do some research to make sure you will be caring for them correctly. Here are some care methods for a few other types of flower bulbs:

• Canna: Canna should be dug up in the fall, right before or after the first frost. Let them dry off and remove any dead vegetation. They should be stored in dry sand or peat moss and kept at about 45 degrees F.
• Crinum: These bulbs are one of the few exceptions to storing your flower bulbs in a dry place. These should be stored in slightly damp sand or peat moss and left at temperatures of around 40 to 45 degrees F. Even in container gardening, these bulbs will require some rest but can be left in the pot in a cool area.