Queen of Night bulbs are planted in fall, chill through winter, and bloom in mid to late spring. Get them in the ground a few weeks before your soil freezes for the best results.
Unboxing
- Open right away. Remove bulbs from the packaging and check that they are firm and dry.
- Store cool and dark. If you cannot plant immediately, keep bulbs in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot (50-65F) for up to a few weeks.
Planting
- Pick your spot. Choose a site with full sun to part shade and well-drained soil - tulips will rot in soggy ground.
- Dig 6-8 inches deep. Loosen the soil and work in compost if your ground is heavy clay.
- Point the tip up. Set each bulb with the pointed end facing the sky and the flat root plate down.
- Space 3-6 inches apart. Plant in clusters of 5-10 for the strongest visual impact.
- Backfill and water in. Cover with soil, firm gently, and water once to settle everything in place.
- Mulch lightly. Add 1-2 inches of mulch to moderate soil temperature over winter.
Watering
- Water at planting. One good soaking is all they need to start rooting.
- Keep winter watering minimal. Natural rain and snow are usually enough; avoid standing water.
- Water during growth. Once shoots appear in spring, provide about an inch of water per week if rain is short.
Feeding
- Feed at planting. Mix a balanced bulb fertilizer or bone meal into the planting hole.
- Top-dress in spring. Scatter a light application of bulb food as shoots emerge to fuel the bloom.
After Bloom Care
- Deadhead spent flowers. Snip off faded blooms so energy returns to the bulb instead of seed production.
- Leave the foliage. Let leaves yellow and die back naturally before removing them - usually 4-6 weeks.
- Cut for the vase sparingly. Taking long stems removes leaves too, which can reduce next year's performance.
Container Growing
- Use a deep pot. Choose a container at least 10-12 inches deep with drainage holes.
- Protect from hard freezes. In zones 3-5, move pots to an unheated garage or shed during extreme cold.