Are these specifically bulbs you are asking about or other plants as well? Do you know the plant names, and if so what are they, or can you post photos? Where are you generally and what zone are you in? Are these plants in the ground or in pots? Do you use fertilizer in dilute doses every time you water? If you can answer some of those questions, you may get more useful answers.

In ground plants I never fertilize, but I do add compost every year which breaks down and provides balanced plant nutrients. Plants in pots need regular fertilizer since potting soil usually doesn't have sufficient nutrients to provide for plants' needs going for any length of time.

These were hyacinth bulbs. I am in zone 9 and they are in pots and I put one plant food singlet in a gallon of water and water the plants. I have decided to mix in some coffee grounds to the potted hyacinth to see if that would help. However this often occurs with my potted bulbs, they always seem to suffer from nitrogen deficiency and die, and thank you for the help.

Potted hyacinths need to have the soil replaced periodically. I do mine every other year. I have 3 bulbs in a 3-gal. pot. As Babs says, dilute doses of fertilizer with every thorough watering is beneficial. And as the leaves die you water less and less.

The ones in the ground do better. There are 2 per hole and get very little summer water. 2nd year bloom stalk is never as full as the 1st year. Hence planted 2 per hole. I dig bonemeal into the bottom of the hole at planting time..

Are the leaves yellow instead of green? Is this why you think it's nitrogen?

thank you for your help! yes the leaves are yellow

There are other issues beside nitrogen levels that can cause yellowing foliage. Overwatering is a problem that often occurs in potted plants and causes problems due to insufficient oxygen in saturated soil. Do you check to be sure that the soil below the surface is somewhat dry before watering? Did you use potting soil (which is often formulated for shorter term growing such as starting plants, but is too fine-textured for long term growth of many potted plants) or a coarser mix that usually makes plants a bit happier long-term?

Other issues may include disease, other nutrient problems (you can do a soil test) or normal die-back of bulb foliage.

Now that I think of it the problem is most likely overwatering, I have a tenancy to over my plants, however I am not sure how. I always feel the soil a few inches down to see if it is dry. I guess the amount of water I use tends to be too much. Is there anything you can do for your plants after they have turned yellow from overwatering? I really appreciate your everyone's help with this, thank you!

It's always garden and learn. If the leaves are totally yellowed they can no longer feed the bulbs. I'd turn one pot out and examine the soil. Is it compacted? Is the lower half wet? Since it's occurring with all the potted bulbs it does seem likely a different soil mix is needed.

I potted bulbs in 5 gal. plastic pots years ago using 2/3 of our nutritious clay soil and 1/3 bagged garden soil (the kind you mix in with your own soil). Well! That bagged garden soil had completely decomposed leaving a hard clay mass after 3 years. Lesson learned. Also if you have saucers under your pots they may hold water too long. They can be helpful to thorougly saturate the soil but do remove them after a few hours or the lower soil can stay soggy, killing roots. Especially in plastic pots. Which can heat up badly in the sun. Which also can kill roots. The bigger the pot the slower the soil heats.

A friend uses all potting mix in her huge 23-26 inch plastic pots. She has amazing tomatoes. A smaller pot has had Oriental lilies in it for over 5 years and they are gorgeous. Yes, she does use liquid fertilizer.

I think there is a fair amount about soil mixes in the Container Gardening Forum.