Tulip care and preventing drooping

Tulips are one of the most popular types of flowers in the world. Like roses, chrysanthemums and carnations, florists tend to keep tulips in stock as much as possible. That said, unlike other popular flowers, tulips tend to be a little more delicate. However, this delicate nature of these flowers shouldn’t put anyone off buying them. Instead, it means you need to take a little better care of these cut flowers to make them last longer. Here are some essential tulip care tips

Tulip flower structure

The first thing to understand when it comes to tulip care is what causes tulips to fall and why they start to droop faster than other types of flowers. Knowing why this is happening will help you fix the problem and extend the life of your cut tulips. Consider the structure of the tulip. The flower is quite large and heavy, while the stems are not as strong like those of a rose or other flowers. As the tulip grows and blooms, it is normal that the soft stem bends with such weight to throw down. Now, after cutting a flower from the mother plant, it may not get its nutrients through the root system, but it still absorbs water and nutrients through its stem. The stems can absorb a good amount of it, but they are not as effective as the roots of the plant. This means that the flowers tend to grow faster while still attached to the plant than after they are cut.

Some tricks to try

Many people have come up with various ways to keep tulips from falling over, but not all of them work. For example, some people add water copper cents with the hope that copper will be released to the water of the pot and contributes to strengthening flowers and cut stems. There is no evidence that works. Some even like to add chlorine to their vase water. This can help delay shedding, but it can also bleach the stem and cause the petals to fade. Experts, like professional florists, advise against piercing the stem just below the flower, as they believe it does more harm than good. Of course, you can try each of these tulip care methods yourself if you’re curious.

Tips that really work

Now before you give up, here are some simple tulip care tricks that work. First of all, when choosing your flowers, make sure they are still in bud form but have started to open. Tight buds may never open, and fully open flowers will perish within a short period. You will also need to cut the stems. Make sure you use very sharp scissors or a knife. You don’t want to damage or crush the stems as this will make it difficult for them to absorb the water. If you’re cutting the flowers from the actual plant, do so just above the node. This will encourage more plant growth and more flowers. Care for your cut tulips as you would any other fresh flower. Tulips, however, enjoy cool, cool water rather than lukewarm or room-temperature water. Change the vase water regularly, add a flower preservative, and keep your tulips away from wind, sun, and air conditioners, stoves, and fireplaces.

Remember, when it comes to tulip care, some of the same rules will apply as they do for other cut stems. However, some will differ given the structure of the flower itself and the fact that the plant grows from a bulb. Try a few different tricks, one at a time, before determining which ones work best for you.