Help? Gardening question

[estepheia]

This may sound stupid, but I've heard so many conflicting infos that I no longer know what to believe.
What do I do with tulips and other bulb-plants onces their bloom is gone? When do I cut them off? I heard you have to leave the plants alone so they can "withdraw" energy into the bulb. But that's kinda vague. When do I cut where? Meep?

Comments

[deevalish.livejournal.com]

Get rid of the pod-y thing that replaced the bloom after the flowers fell off. It drains the bulb. You can just snip it off just under the growth. I know some people who water with a little fertilizer afterwards to feed the bulb. I've tried it and don't really see the difference. Leave the leaves alone until they are totally yellow and dry. You can dig them up if you want and store in a cool dry place till next year or leave them be. But they never really come back as strong as they did wotht he first planting. That's why a lot of people just yank them out and compost.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

I just cut of all the pod-y things. Thanks!!!
Fertilizer, check. :-)
Digging up? I don't think so. I trip over enough stuff in our cellar already.

Cheers.