Thu 04 Aug 2022

Cut tulip care for long-lasting blooms

When you visit your local florist or when you take a look around at flowers online, you will notice that some blooms tend to be more readily available than others. Tulips are considered by many florists around the world to be an essential bloom that they need to keep in stock at all times. Even if you have never tried arranging flowers yourself, you too will find it easy to create the perfect cut tulip bouquet. Here’s what you need and all the steps you need to follow.

Things you need:

– A selection of fresh tulips

– One clean vase (tall enough to support the cut tulip stems)

– A sharp pair of scissors or knife

– Flower preserve

Instructions:

  • As soon as you bring your cut tulip bouquet home, you need to place them in some fresh water right away. While most flowers enjoy lukewarm water, tulips prefer crisp, cool water so keep this in mind.

  • While your blooms are soaking up some fresh water, you have time to prepare your vase. Make sure that you clean your vase thoroughly before adding some fresh water and flower preserve. Stir well and make sure that the flower food has completely dissolved before you proceed.

  • Next, you will need to prepare each stem. This involves trimming the stem at a 45 degree angle so that it does not end up resting flat on the bottom of the vase. You do not want to obstruct water absorption in any way.

  • While you’re at it, you should remove any leaves that will otherwise end up in the vase. Not only do leaves in the vase water encourage bacterial growth, but they will also crowd the vase.

  • Insert your tulips one by one as soon as they are prepared. If you are using different colours, make sure that you alternate between the colours for a balanced final result.

  • Next, you will need to find the right spot for your bouquet. This means that you need to set the vase somewhere out of the sun and away from any fans, sources of heat or air conditioners.

  • Keep a close eye on the water level and quality. You might need to top up every day and you should replace the water every couple of days.

  • When you replace the vase, you should inspect the bases of the stems. If they are slimy, you need to trim the stems again. The sliminess is bacteria and it clogs the stems. Cutting the stems gives each stem a fresh surface area from which it can absorb water and nutrients. This helps prolong the life of your bouquet.

  • As soon as you notice any of the stems start to wilt, you should remove them from the bouquet. Dying and dead plant material releases a gas which causes other plant material to decay faster too.

With all of these cut tulip care tips, you will really get the most out of your bouquet. Remember, you should only order flowers from reputable florists who back their products with a satisfaction guarantee. Your blooms should arrive in partial bud form to ensure that they will open and you will get to enjoy their full lifespan.