Potted tulips given in winter or early spring are likely forced (made to bloom earlier than they would normally) for a seasonal display indoors. These are usually treated as annuals (tossed after blooms are spent), and many won’t flower again next year. However, some types of tulips, such as Darwin or species tulips, do better about transplanting/reblooming, so you can certainly try an experiment to see what happens. It is possible to plant forced tulip bulbs outdoors, although they may not bloom until the second or third year after you plant them, if at all, and the blooms might be smaller. Some tulips just naturally only produce blooms for 1 or 2 years.
To try and plant a bulb outdoors for future blooms, you’ll need to give the bulb lots of TLC, including good light, enough water (but not too much), and proper fertilizer. First set the potted tulip in a sunny, cool spot. Care as you would normally, including water and fertilizer, while it is blooming. Wait until the flowers have faded, then cut off the flower stalk. This will help the plant to focus on making food (via its leaves) rather than on creating seeds. As the leaves start to turn yellow, stop fertilizing and gradually cut back on watering until the leaves turn brown and brittle.
At this point, especially if it is still springtime, you can plant the bulbs outdoors. Or, you can wait until fall. If you choose to plant in fall, cut off the dried foliage. Then you can either keep the bulbs in the pot, or dig up the bulbs and let them sit in a dry place for 1 to 2 weeks and then store them in a brown paper bag. Place the pot or the bag with bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place until fall. About 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected hard fall frost, you can then plant the bulbs outside.
Potted tulips given in winter or early spring are likely forced (made to bloom earlier than they would normally) for a seasonal display indoors. These are usually treated as annuals (tossed after blooms are spent), and many won’t flower again next year. However, some types of tulips, such as Darwin or species tulips, do better about transplanting/reblooming, so you can certainly try an experiment to see what happens. It is possible to plant forced tulip bulbs outdoors, although they may not bloom until the second or third year after you plant them, if at all, and the blooms might be smaller. Some tulips just naturally only produce blooms for 1 or 2 years.
To try and plant a bulb outdoors for future blooms, you’ll need to give the bulb lots of TLC, including good light, enough water (but not too much), and proper fertilizer. First set the potted tulip in a sunny, cool spot. Care as you would normally, including water and fertilizer, while it is blooming. Wait until the flowers have faded, then cut off the flower stalk. This will help the plant to focus on making food (via its leaves) rather than on creating seeds. As the leaves start to turn yellow, stop fertilizing and gradually cut back on watering until the leaves turn brown and brittle.
At this point, especially if it is still springtime, you can plant the bulbs outdoors. Or, you can wait until fall. If you choose to plant in fall, cut off the dried foliage. Then you can either keep the bulbs in the pot, or dig up the bulbs and let them sit in a dry place for 1 to 2 weeks and then store them in a brown paper bag. Place the pot or the bag with bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place until fall. About 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected hard fall frost, you can then plant the bulbs outside.