Many are interested in storing tulip bulbs at home. To do this is not difficult. Even beginners, inexperienced gardeners will be able to cope with this. There are several proven ways to help admire the blooming tulips annually. In this article we will describe them in detail.
How to prepare planting material for storage
Tulips must be removed from the ground at the beginning of summer, after they have bloomed. There is no exact date for this procedure.
It is necessary to focus on the appearance of the leaves: the faded and yellowed leaves indicate that the bulb has formed and it is time to dig it out. Also look at the bulbs - brown scales speak of maturity.
Tulip bulbs should be sorted. After they were removed in the summer, they are distributed in varieties and volumes and put in separate containers in order to be more convenient to store.
Damaged and diseased bulbs must be discarded. With the remaining clean off the ground. Then they are washed and disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour, so that they do not deteriorate before planting. 
Then they must be dried, scattered in the shade. The procedure is best carried out in a room that is ventilated - on the street can prevent the rain.
After 7 days, the dried onions are sifted out again, removing the remnants of the stalks and small germinal onions. Then they need to dry out a few more days.
Preparation of tulip bulbs is finished. Now you need to decide on a place where they will be comfortable in the winter. It is very important to store the planting material in appropriate conditions, as otherwise it may deteriorate.
Did you know? In the world there are more than 3 thousand varieties of tulips, which are cultivated by genetic or natural means.
What should be a place suitable for storing bulbs
Consider the places where it is recommended to store tulips until spring. It is better to choose a cool room, such as a barn, basement, attic. The place should be ventilated, without access to the sun, dry. 
Suitable humidity - no more than 70%. Light should almost not be, because under the ground onions are in the dark. Only weak diffused illumination is allowed, in order to avoid disturbance of physiological processes.
Learn how to properly store dahlias and gladiolus in the winter.
Basic rules for storing tulip bulbs
You need to know at what temperature store tulip bulbs before planting. The best temperature is approximately 20 ° C, and in the fall - no more than 17 ° C. Since flower buds are laid in the first few weeks, they should be kept at 24 ° C immediately after digging. Later, the temperature should be reduced.
Consider a few secrets:
- remove the bulbs from the ground must be carefully - any damage can cause fungal diseases;
- it is recommended to store in a regular box;
- it is better to fill them with one layer;
- you can pour planting material with sawdust - so the onions will not absorb unnecessary moisture;
- it is allowed to wrap each onion in the newspaper - it will save from damage.
Important! It is better to refuse cardboard boxes, as they soak, and the onions can become moldy.
Methods for storing tulip bulbs
Let's learn how to store tulips in the winter.
Apartment
You can select a cool pantry, butt or dark room, where there is no moisture. Place should be away from batteries. It is also allowed to put the box on the insulated balcony. In the container it is recommended to make a hole for the thermometer so that you can control the temperature.
Cellar
The storage cellar must be ventilated and dry. Bulbs must be sprinkled with sawdust, sand or vermiculite. It is important to control the temperature. 
Important! Every week, you should sort out future tulips and throw away rotten and spoiled ones.
You can also store in the basement tulip bulbs after flowering in this way: light soil, which consists of garden soil, peat, vermiculite, is poured into a box and steamed for 1 hour using a water bath.
Onions are planted in this soil. They put roots in it, but do not grow, because the temperature is too low for this.
But storage in the cellar has one drawback - rodents like to feast on food. Therefore, if you have ever noticed these pests in your home, it is better to find another place for bulbs.
Fridge
If the onions are small, they can be put in a refrigerator where vegetables and fruits are stored. Before this, each bulb should be wrapped in paper and put in a paper or cloth bag. 
Heat chamber
Heat chambers are considered the most suitable place. They are ventilated and automatically maintain the desired temperature. But such a device has a high cost, so not everyone can afford to purchase it.
Did you know? In the 17th century Holland, tulips were very expensive - one bulb could be more expensive than a decent town house. Often the price of a simple plant is ten times exceeded annual income of an ordinary person.
Possible storage problems and solutions
Problems may arise from improper storage conditions, for example, when humidity or temperature is elevated. This can lead to the fact that the bulbs rot, moldy or sprout prematurely.
In too dry place, planting material may dry out and die. Therefore, observe the proper storage conditions.
In the event of mold, the tulip bulbs are sifted, healthy ones are laid and stored separately. And damaged ones are treated with basezol or potassium permanganate. A large amount of mold is removed with a dry towel. 
If the planting material began to rot, you must select the diseased bulbs and destroy them in order to protect healthy ones. But in the case of small lesions, they can be saved by cutting off the rot and treating the cutting sites with green.
Among the most popular onion flowers, except for the tulip, are: snowdrop, autumn crocus, gladiolus, lily, daffodil, hyacinth.Onions can be affected by rodents. In such cases, it is recommended to store them in stockings or nets, which should be hung from the ceiling.
Properly choosing a place to save the future tulips, you can completely protect them from problems. And during planting you will have only healthy planting material.
