Tulips - Lighting Guidelines for Tulips
While the right amount of light for tulips varies a bit from one cultivar to another, most prefer partial to full sun. The flower first evolved on the bottom slopes of the mountains near present-day Turkey where winters are cold, ample rainfall comes briefly in the spring, and summers are hot and dry. Those conditions give clues to the right amount of light to give your tulip and when.
But how much is 'partial to full sun' and how do you go about arranging it?
With potted plants, of course, the task is much easier. You can place your potted tulip near a south-facing window in spring and summer and - provided the temperature isn't excessive - nature will do the rest. Keep an eye on that temperature. Even heat-loving tulips can get burned, and near the window on a hot day 120F/50C is easy to achieve, unfortunately.
When necessary, controlling the light indoors is easy. Louvers, blinds and drapes readily block light. If the tulip isn't getting enough, but may get too much, a thin, gauze curtain is easy to hang.
Just note the plant's physical appearance. Look for browned edges from burning or if there are spots on the window that might focus light, tiny spots on the leaves. Those might also be from disease, of course. Adjust the amount of light and ensure you're not overwatering. Tulips like things on the dry side.
Outside, the conditions are a little harder to control. The major method for adjusting light is to plant in the desired spot. For partial sun, find or create a spot say, under a deciduous tree that provides some filtering. For full sun, ensure that the area gets a minimum of 3 hours of bright sunshine per day. Tulips will thrive even if they get as much as six.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun traverses the sky while remaining slightly to the south. But, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. So, long daylight hours will tend to produce more hot, bright sunlight on the western side of the house when the south isn't an option.
Those natural facts provide a good guide for selecting the location to plant. An area on the southern side of the house (in the Northern Hemisphere) will get the most sun. If that isn't convenient, the western side is the next best choice.
Even outdoors, a little artificial shade is never a bad idea if you can arrange it. For some areas that get truly baking sun, an hour or two of reduced sun during the peak hours might be in order. You can shade your tulips with an awning that can be raised and lowered, or place a little tent over them. Most cultivars won't require it, but a few will benefit from the extra care.
Don't succumb to the temptation to compensate for extra hot conditions by watering. True, tulips need some water, but they're much more likely to suffer from overwatering than too little. Provided they have good drainage, moderate water once per week in spring followed by very little once a month during summer is best.
