If you follow me on Instagram you saw that my sweet husband surprised me with a bouquet of tulips last Friday. I love, love, love tulips and probably love them even more so this year because I’m so looking forward to Spring (we have 7″ of snow and an ice storm happening as I write this!) While I appreciate the charm of a drooping, swinging tulip I know many prefer their tulips not to droop (and in many arrangements they look better standing tall) so I thought I’d share my tips to keep tulips from drooping and make them last!
Start Fresh
First and foremost start with fresh blooms. Fresh cut tulips should have bright green stems that feel crisp to the touch. Nothing is going to help your tulips avoid dropping if you start with old flowers that have already taken a turn for the worse.
Choose the Right Vase
Choose a vase that is tall enough to offer the tulips support. Avoid vases that curve outward at the top if you want your tulips to stay upright. As you can see below, if you use a wide topped vase the tulips will follow that arch. Fill your vase with clean cold water. (It’s often said that dropping a penny made prior to 1981 will help keep the stems upright due to the copper in the water…I can’t say for sure that it will work but I do it out of habit just in case!)
Recut the Stems
Recut the stems at least an inch from the previous cut while holding underwater. Remove all leaves that will be under the waterline in your vase and put in the vase while still in the florist wrap, this will offer support to your tulips as they “drink” up the water the first few hours. If your blooms were loose, gently wrap them in plastic wrap to keep them upright.
Condition the Stems
Allow your tulips to remain the vase, wrapped, for 5 hours or overnight. Conditioning the stems in this way allows them to fill with water while maintaining that upright position.
Maintain the Arrangement
Keep your tulips out of direct sunlight (they will turn towards the sun!) and change the water daily. Snip the stems every 3 days to help them continue to keep fresh.
If All Else Fails…
If all else fails you have the option of threading floral wire up through the stem to the base of the flower (carefully!!) Coil the excess at the bottom of the stem into a spiral for stability. Gently bend the flower where you want it and it should hold it’s shape.
Have you gotten your first bouquet of tulips yet this year? Isn’t it amazing just how many different colors they come in? What’s your favorite?
For more tips like this, check out my secret for keeping Hydrangeas fresh…
…and how to arrange a grocery store bouquet like a pro!
Linking to I Heart Naptime
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Tulips are my favorite Spring flowers! So nice to know how to keep them fresh longer.
Lynne says
Let me give you a florists tip. After you have prepared your tulips as you instructed and have cut the stem to the desired length. Take a straight pin and insert a pin hole in the neck of the tulip just under the flower. Your arrangement will stay beautiful .
Linda says
I have used the pin trick for years. It works. Just never add daffodils to your tulips. Although they bloom well together, they do like to share water in a vase. Linda@Wetcreek Blog
Sitemap - Brautkleid kaufen - aber wie? says
I actually do have confidence in the many ideas you might have presented in the submit. They may be really begging and may definitely perform. However, a blogposts are certainly simple to start. Could you want extend these somewhat via when? We appreciate you the particular article.. Sitemap – Brautkleid kaufen – aber wie?
Joan says
The real secret to keeping the blooms upright is to add SUGAR to the water. Trust me, it works! Blooms that are hanging over the side of the vase will be upright within an hour.
Sue says
how much? A spoonful did not help my tulips which drooped the minute I brought them home & put them in water.
karen tennant says
I agree sugar and a copper penny do the trick—they last upright for a full week–just continue to add more water
boombeach.diamonds says
Il fut l’un dе ces comparaisons pluѕ proche cotation cependant,
еt lorsqu’іl dɑns ɑ deux
facteuirs ѕéparant ᥱncore leѕ téléphones à l’intérieur ɗe noѕ comparaisons, noսѕ vons ցénéralement affirmé գue с’еѕt սne discussion ԁе préférence personnelle siccinct l’օn ѵous choisissez.
Lisa B says
I have always used 1 tablespoon of vodka in a vase full of cool water. It works great. I think the floral wrap idea makes sense, and I’ll give it a try next time. My florist said to skip the penny though. Most old pennies are full of bacteria and will actually shorten the life of the tulips. I have also heard of people sticking a pin through the stem 1/2″ from bottom of cut stem. I imagine that would be to help them draw more water. I’ve not tried that.
scuba lessons says
I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your content.
Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your blog and keep checking for new details about once
per week. I opted in for your RSS feed as well.
los angeles photography studios says
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly
donate to this excellent blog! I guess for
now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS
feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
food yeast says
Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet
Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, terrific blog!