Do I have to do anything with prematurly grown spring bulbs?

Question

The weather has been unseasonably warm here (S/W Ontario) & several of my spring bulbs actually began to sprout. I think it's my paper whites coming up.
Should I just leave them as they are or cut them back?

Answer 1

Hi - They should stop growing when the weather gets colder. Then you can put mulch on them to protect them (remove the mulch in early spring). Personally, I think that's too much work and would let mother nature take over. Bulbs have survived warm spells in the past on their own without our intervention. So I say no need to cut them back - if the cold kills them, the end result will be the same as if you cut them.

To prevent in the future, make sure that you are planting the bulbs deep enough.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Don't cut them back! They're tough; just cover them with a layer of fallen leaves or mulch, and they'll be fine through the winter. Paperwhites and crocuses are generally among the earliest of the bulb plants to sprout, so any hint of warm weather can start the process. I lived in Colorado at 6000+ feet, and had paperwhites and daffodils that would come up if we had a few warm days, and there were any number of occasions that they did perfectly well through an entire snowstorm. Just let nature take its course, and you'll be fine.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

Paperwhites, and other early sprouting bulbs often come up before winter is over. Mine bloomed in Decmber last year. Of course I'm not up in your zone. I'm in z 8 @4200 ft.

The leaves will be just fine. If you do cut them off the bulb may not come back next year. Those early leaves are getting things started for a good bloom next year, the flowers for this year are waiting in the bulb (or blooming soon).

Just enjoy them with the early show.

I also have some dutch iris starting to leaf.

Answer 4

Just leave 'em as is... they do know what to do. You may see some browning on the tips of the leaves, but the flower buds are still well underground.