Fungus

• A common type of fungus that attacks tulips is the Botrytis blight fungus, also called gray mold. The fungus also is known as tulip fire and is the result of the pathogen Botrytis tulipae. Tulip fire is characterized by big light brown blotches on the leaves of a tulip plant as well as brown blotches on white tulip petals or white blotches on petals that are colorful. Grayish areas appear on the tulip's stems, and the stems eventually can break down as well.
  
  

Other Types

• Another type of tulip disease results from the Pythium fungus. You will notice pythium root rot because the shoots of the plant do not come up, and the bottom part of the tulip bulbs feature gray blotches surrounded by a brown ring.
  
  Meanwhile, basal rot happens due to the activity of the Fusarium oxysporum fungus. Dark brown areas appear on the tulip bulbs along with growths that actually look pinkish. The fungus also causes the leaves to die before their time. The Ditylenchus dipsaci fungus additionally contributes to a disease called stem and bulb nematode and results in porous blotches as well as a grainy texture inside the tulip bulbs.
  
  

Control

• An effective way to manage tulip fungus is to use a fungicide. These chemical products work best in the spring season because temperatures typically are relatively cool. Follow the instructions on the fungicide label carefully. To protect healthy plants, apply chemicals such as chlorothalonil, methyl, thiophanate or iprodione. Look for a product that specifically lists tulip bulbs on the label.
  
  

More Information

• In addition to using chemical control procedures to battle tulip fungus, you also should destroy any diseased plants or simply remove dead plant parts. Try to do this in dry weather because the moisture on plants actually can facilitate the advancement of fungal spores. In addition, avoid watering the tulip plant's leaves at times when the plant will have an insufficient amount of time to dry off, such as in the evening. Make sure air is able to flow well around the plant.