The gesnerian tulip It is a tulip native to Asia and belongs to the Liliaceae family. One of its main characteristics is that it is hermaphroditic, which means that it has both male and female reproductive systems. It is widely used in garden and pot decoration.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about the gesnerian tulipits features and care.
Contents
main Features
It is a plant reaching 50 cm in height and has a breeding season in autumn. Its flowers have a sweet aroma and are very resistant to low temperatures, which for a time made them the most expensive flowers in the world. A little later we will tell you that this is the most expensive flower in the world.
It all started with the enormous popularity they acquired in Europe in the middle of the 16th century, and more precisely in the Netherlands. Due to speculation, these became the first financial bubbles in history and even replaced currencies for a time.
The gesnerian tulip It belongs to the perennial bulb family Liliaceae and belongs to a group of around 150 different species and countless hybrids. The most recognized variety of tulip is the tulipa, which became popular in central Europe in 1634 when it was considered one of the most prized flowers in the Netherlands and has remained so. In fact, its bulbs were traded for land and livestock.
One of the biggest characteristics of these plants is that they are hermaphroditic, that is, they themselves have male and female reproductive systems, or more simply, mixed reproductive systems. During its breeding season, usually between fall and early winter, its flowers give off a very sweet aroma.
In addition, this tulip has the great advantage of resisting very low temperatures without being damagedalthough it has always been recommended to keep these flowers indoors in sub-zero temperatures, although they are resistant to extreme cold.
care of the gesnerian tulip
These are very popular perennials grown from bulbs. They are often placed in decorative gardens, but are also perfect for rock gardens and borders. They can also be placed in pots or vases. Most hybrid tulips are hardy. When the temperature is below 5°C for 3-4 weeks, the differentiation of flower buds is easier and the flowering rate of bulbs is higher. In addition, these flowers do not require much water, so watering after planting is enough.
In general, standing water should be avoided as it can rot tulip bulbs. Also, when storing them, make sure the air in the room is as dry as possible to prevent them from spoiling. The Tulipa gesneriana likes sunny places. Whether planted in pots or in the garden, It needs at least 7 hours of sun a day to flower, so it doesn’t need shade.
They prefer alkaline, well-drained soils. It is true that they can also grow in poor sandy soils, but not in clay soils, as they can interfere with bulb growth. Add coarse sand and topsoil to the clay to increase its permeability and allow good water drainage, providing optimal growing conditions. If the soil is acidic, add lime to increase its pH, is best for this plant because it grows best in soils with a pH of 6-7.
How to plant the gesnerian tulip
The best season to plant Tulipa gesneriana is from late autumn to early winter, when nighttime temperatures drop to 10°C. If the temperature is too high, the roots may not grow well and the plant may get sick. If you decide to have it in the garden, preferably in a sunny and well-ventilated place.
Before planting, remove the weeds around it. Next, dig a large hole and insert the bulb into it. The depth and distance between the bulbs should be at least twice their diameter. If you decide to plant the bulbs in clay, the recommended depth is 5-10 cm. In soft soils, it is recommended to leave about 15 cm deep. Insert a tulip bulb into the hole and lightly cover with soil. Finally, compact the soil with a shovel or board.
You can place a net under the bulb to easy to harvest when tulips bloom and plants wilt. If you prefer, you can place the bulb directly in a special basket and bury it in the ground. It is not recommended to plant tulips regularly and keep the same distance between the bulbs, as this will make the effect unnatural.
The gesnerian tulip They can also be grown in pots, buckets, stone tubs or other decorative containers, but these containers should have drainage holes in the bottom. If a large container is used, it is best to place a layer of stones or bricks (about 3 cm thick) at the bottom to facilitate drainage.
maintenance tasks
They don’t need a lot of water. Whether planted in pots or in the garden, watering after planting is usually sufficient. During flowering, potted tulips need occasional watering to keep the soil moist and prevent it from drying out. After the flowering period, keep the soil moist until the leaves wilt.
Remember that potting soil is more likely to dry out, so water more frequently and always avoid standing water. Rain is usually sufficient unless the weather is very dry; in this case, additional watering will be required.
They are often used as disposable bulbs, which means that once they flower they are thrown away or dug up for summer storage, so fertilization is not necessary. If you find the soil is in poor condition, mix some fertilizer into the soil when you plant the bulbs.
Prune faded flowers as soon as possible to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients and energy during the fruiting period. In this way, You will also be able to preserve the nutrients of the bulb, lengthen the flowering period and increase the vigor of the plant.
If you want to harvest tulip seeds, wait for the pods to dry and open after the flowers have faded. Cut the tree into the ground after collecting the seeds. In general, it is recommended to plant each bulb only once. At the end of the flowering period, the bulbs are dug up and discarded along with the faded leaves.
I hope with this information you can learn more about the gesnerian tulip and their characteristics.