Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look for fuzzy gray mold on the underside of the leaves.
- Check if you have been watering the leaves directly instead of the soil.
- Examine the stems for signs of twisting or stunted growth.
Likely causes
Tulip Fire
Most likelyHow to tell: Small brown spots appear on the leaves, which eventually grow and cause the stems to twist or collapse.
What to do: Remove and destroy all infected plant parts immediately to stop the spread. Do not compost these materials, as the fungus can survive in the soil.
Overhead watering
PossibleHow to tell: Water droplets sitting on the leaves create small, circular brown or yellow spots.
What to do: Water your tulips at the base of the plant rather than spraying the foliage. Keep the leaves dry to prevent fungal growth.
Find out what's wrong with your tulip
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the spots are spreading rapidly and the stems are twisting, you must act quickly to save the rest of your garden.
Stopping it coming back
Provide good air circulation between plants and always water at the soil level to keep foliage dry.
Tulip: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your tulip and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with Tulip Fire?
- It is very difficult to cure once it takes hold, so removing the plant is usually the best way to protect your other tulips.
- Is this disease contagious to other plants?
- Tulip Fire is specific to tulips and related bulbs, but it can easily spread to every tulip in your garden.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Tulip
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.