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Raygen Bearden
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TULIP FIRE & HOW TO PREVENT ITHOW TO
PROTECT YOUR GARDEN FROM TULIP FIRE
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Contents
Abstract 3
7 7
Conclusion 8
Works Cited 9
Figure 2 3
Figure 3 6
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Figure 4 7
Abstract
Tulips are one of the most popular flowers for commercial use. This is likely due to the unique
shape and color of the species. These flowers brighten up a room with their colorful petals, often
in shades of pink, red, or yellow. Tulips are also great additions to flower beds. They can be a
challenge to maintain, but once they bloom in the springtime, all the hard work is worth it.
There are multiple diseases that can affect tulips. Basal Rot, Tulip Breaking Virus, and Bulb
Nematode are just a few. These varying diseases can harm the roots, bulb, petals, and stem of a
tulip. One of the most well-known diseases that afflict tulips is Tulip Fire (Jaros). This disease is
extremely harmful to tulips and to the soil your tulips are planted in. This disease is extremely
harmful to tulips but can be prevented if the flower is properly taken care of. For gardeners
searching for a solution, look no further! Tulip fire can be prevented if tulip bulbs are taken care
of. This includes planting in the right places, at the right time, and in the right soil. This paper
will expand on what tulip fire is and how to keep it from infecting your flowers.
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first signs of this disease are small, twisted shoots called ‘fireheads.’ These shoots appear mottled
or blighted and will eventually collapse” (Jaros). As seen in Figure 2, t The infection spreads
throughout the plant in the form of white and brown moldy spots, warped leaves, and holes in the
petals. Once the disease has taken over, the flower appears singed by fire, which is how the
Tulip Fire can infect the bulb of a tulip at the time of planting as well as during the growing
process (Jaros). This is a contagious condition that can spread throughout your tulip garden if not
properly disposed of. Not only can the tulip itself become infected, the dead flower tissue can
also contaminate the soil with seed-like structures called sclerotia (Crossley).
Many associate tulips with the Netherlands but the tulip flower actually originated in Central
Asia. They were commonly traded on the Silk Road along with livestock, fruit, spices, and of
course, silk. The Turks cultivated these flowers as early as 1000AD and continued to do so into
the Ottoman Empire (Raven). According to Sarah Raven, the name ‘tulip’ comes from the
Tulips didn’t make it to the Netherlands until the late 16th century when they were shipped to
Carolus Clusius from Turkey. Clusius, a biologist in Vienna, was gifted tulip bulbs from Ogier
planted the bulbs and the flowers’ popularity spread like wildfire. Unfortunately, as popularity
began to grow, so did the number of tulip diseases. As tulips were planted in different countries
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and even continents, the flower was introduced to different types of soil, levels of humidity, and
temperatures. People caught on to the fact that the flower grew best when planted in the winter,
Tulip Fire is a “threat to all commercially grown tulip species and cultivars” (Jaros). Though the
effects are confined to the tulip species, according to Better Homes & Gardens, there are “more
than 3,000 varieties of tulips worldwide. Of those 3,000 varieties, tulips can be divided into
approximately 150 species” (Krane). This number includes both hybrid tulips as well as natural
ones. Both lilies and dahlias fall into the tulip category which means they can suffer from Tulip
Fire as well. If the condition is not handled, the disease will quicky spread throughout a garden’s
soil and spoil all existing and future tulips planted in the area.
In order to To prevent Tulip Fire in your garden, there are some a few important things to keep in
mind. The first thingThe most important thing is to find a good spot to plant the tulips. It’s
important toYou need to choose an area that is slightly shaded and has sandy soil with a pH of 6
to 6.5 (Barkan). Planting It’s vital to plant your tulips in fairly dry soil is vital to ensure your
tulips don’t drown or contract mold. Tulips should be planted in the fall (6-7 weeks before
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winter). Before planting, check the bulbs for unusual spots and decay which can turn into Tulip
Fire. Tulip bulbs should be planted “three times as deep as the bulb” (Barkan). The bulbs should
also be planted at least half of a foot away from each other to ensure airflow. Once planted, the
tulips must be watered. Watering the tulips won’t be necessary again until leaves are visible or if
it hasn’t rained in multiple weeks. Once the spring months arrive, fertilizing your tulips will
allow continuous growth (Barkan). As long as you are following these rules of thumb, your
Growing tulips requires planning and continuous effort which is the reason some people fall
victim to failed gardens. Common mistakes when it comes to planting tulips include
overwatering, underwatering, planting during the wrong time of year, not planting deep enough,
and not testing your soil. Each of these can cause your tulips to die and not bloom at all. It’s also
important to observe each bulb before planting. If you plant a tulip bulb that has already
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How to Dispose of Infected Tulips
If your tulips bloom with signs of Tulip Fire, they need to be discarded. Though chemical
controls and natural sublimates can often reverse the damage done to infected flowers, this is not
the case with Tulip Fire. If your tulips are in a pot, remove the soil and clean it out well. If
planted in a garden, the soil could be spoiled. This is when the dirt becomes contaminated with
sclerotia or when toxic mold travels through airborne spores (RHS). In this case, the infected soil
needs to be buried below planting level and replaced with non-contaminated soil. If your tulips
have contracted Tulip Fire, do not plant tulips in the same area until after a three-year period.
will have no suitable habitat left by 2050 at all” (Cambridge University). According to him, the
species will need to be relocated to higher altitudes by humans in order for them to survive.
Not only will climate change affect wild tulips, but it will also affect garden tulips. “Tulips rely
on seasonal triggers to initiate their short growing season and struggle with waterlogged soil, so
changes in temperature and rainfall may have serious negative effects on yield and quality of
flowers” (Cambridge University). Changes in rainfall and temperature due to global warming
will certainly cause diseases like Tulip Fire to spread dramatically. Because of the results of
Cambridge University’s test, conservationConservation efforts are being put into place to protect
these beautiful flowers. One conservation effort benefiting tulips is Fauna & Flora International.
As a society, there are two main things to do to help preserve this species. The first thing is to
take good care of the tulips we have. The second thing is to support conservation and botanical
non-profits that advocate for tulips. If we advocate for these plants, hopefully they will flourish
The tulip species is a captivating plant. For the beauty factor alone, it would be tragic for them to
go extinctdie off because of disease. Though these colorful beauties are pleasing to the eye, they
also serve many other purposes. The oil from tulips can be repurposed for skin products,
essential oils, moisturizers, and beauty products. Products like these can’t be created from
infected tulips. Additionally, tTulips are within the lily family which includes garlic and onions.
The petals of tulips are edible and can be used as a substitute for onions and to make wine
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(Better Homes & Gardens). If tulips continue to die off from climate change or from diseases
such asIf tulips are infected with Tulip Fire, these products can no longer bethey
manufacturedcannot be ingested.
Conclusion
Tulips are incredible plants with a rich oriental history. With diseases like Tulip Fire, it can be a
challenge to maintain healthy tulips. However,, their beauty makes the hard work worth it. If
properly taken care of, tulips are a great addition to your garden. These lovely flowers can be
used simply as yard decorations or for more practical things like essential oils and wine.. It’s
important to perform the proper steps to ensure your tulips grow properly. By caring for tulips
and preserving their beauty, the world will be a much more colorful place.
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Works Cited
Barkan, Ben. “How to Care for Tulips: 15 Steps (With Pictures) - wikiHow.” wikiHow, 19 Nov.
2022, www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Tulips.
Helen. “Wild Tulips Under Threat. - Cambridge Botanic Garden.” Cambridge Botanic Garden,
Krane, Jenny. “7 Facts Every Tulip Lover Should Know.” Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug.
2022, www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/facts-about-tulips.
https://www.reviewmentor.com/miraculous-benefits-and-uses-of-tulips-that-you-should-know/
ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2016/10/Tulip_A_Brief_History.
www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/tulip-fire.
Crossley, Holly. “What Is Tulip Fire and How Do You Prevent It?” gardeningetc.com, 4 Oct.
2022, www.gardeningetc.com/advice/tulip-fire.
Jaros, Liz. “8 Different Tulip Diseases: Identification, Prevention, and Treatment.” All About
Gardener, Matt. “17 Tulip Growing Problems and Gardening Mistakes You Should Avoid.”
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https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/IuuisHGSO72m4wbgoV1r7wd0-zg=/4288x2848/
filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tulips-planting-and-growing-tulips-1402137-08-
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https://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/
2014/08/24/428132/591fc8268b8e692636e603f4bd10c61a.jpg
https://publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/40000/velka/pink-tulip-flower.jpg
http://rawedibleplants.blogspot.com/2014/02/tulips-tulipa-species.html?m=1
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