Thu 13 Apr 2023

Cut tulips and how to make them last

Of all the spring flowers available, cut tulips are one of the most popular. They are readily available around this time of year and they are loved for their amazing colours. During Tulipmania, they became quite expensive. However, thanks to international progress in terms of the economy and cultivation techniques, these blooms are now far more affordable. Of course, if you want to get the most value for money, you should follow these steps to ensure that your bouquet looks amazing for as long as possible.

You will need:

  • A selection of fresh cut tulips
  • A clean vase
  • A sharp knife or pair of scissors
  • Flower food

Instructions:

  • As soon as you receive your bouquet of cut tulips, you will need to tend to their needs. You might not have everything you need right away so, for now, place the bouquet in some fresh, cold water. While most flowers enjoy lukewarm water, tulips are grown from bulbs which means that they prefer a crisp drink.
  • While your blooms enjoy their time in some clean water, you can prepare the vase. Make sure that it is properly washed and rinsed before you proceed.
  • Fill the vase to about the halfway mar and then add some flower food as per the package instructions. Not only will this offer your flowers some nutrients but it will also slow the growth of bacteria in the vase water.
  • Once your vase is ready, you can take each tulip stem, one at a time, and remove any lower leaves that may otherwise end up below the water line. Trim the base of the stem at an angle too since this will make it easier for the stem to absorb water.
  • As soon as you have trimmed the stem, place it in your vase and repeat these steps with each of your tulips.
  • Once you have added all of your blooms to the vase, you can proceed to
  • After arranging each flower in the vase, you will need to place your bouquet of Tulips in just the right spot in your home. They should not press up directly against the glass of a window. They should also be kept out of drafts, away from heaters, air conditioners and similar items.
  • Monitor the water and change it out every few days. Tulips tend to drink up a fair amount of water compared to other cut flowers so you will need to make sure that the vase does not dry out. Of course, you shouldn’t overfill the vase either because this will allow bacteria to grow along the entire stem.
  • When you change the water, make sure that you take a look at the bases of each stem. You may need to give them another little trim. If you do, remember to do so under water and don’t forget to add more flower preserve to the fresh vase water each time.

If you notice that any of your Tulips are starting to wilt, you should remove them from the vase immediately. Perishing plant material causes a rapid increase in bacteria growth so the sooner you pluck them from the water, the better for the rest of the bouquet.