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 care for tulips in a vase, keep tulips from drooping and make cut tulips last!
How to Care for Tulips in a Vase
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
When displaying tulips in a vase, choosing the right vase can make a big difference in whether they will droop or not. 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!)
How to Keep Tulips from Drooping
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 and making it more likely they will stand upright longer.
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.
How to Mke Cut Tulips Last
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.
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
Mags
Tulips are gorgeous until u take them out their wrap,….
Gave my daughter a bouquet for Easter.
They instantly drooped in the vase, I say it every year but honestly NEVER buying again.
Jennifer
mine drooped until they drank up the water overnight then they straightened up nicely.
Mary L E
My first visit to this blog . I googled how to condition hydrangeas. Enjoyed reading the blog and comments. Vodka in flowers I had been told could be used. I used to much vodka they smelled drunk and were-past dropping. I was not drinking the vodka. An expensive mistake. I will enjoy following your blog.
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Lisa B
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.
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karen tennant
I agree sugar and a copper penny do the trick—they last upright for a full week–just continue to add more water
Joan
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
how much? A spoonful did not help my tulips which drooped the minute I brought them home & put them in water.
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Lynne
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
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
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen
Tulips are my favorite Spring flowers! So nice to know how to keep them fresh longer.
Janet Turner
A penny or 2 pence piece in the bottom of the vase helps keep tulips from drooping..
.
Sally
The penny works kept mine upright 1 week
Melissa
That’s great Sally!! Thanks for sharing! ~Melissa
Carol Haverly
A very long time ago I saw a post to cut a slit a short way down the stem from the bud about 1/2 “ inch or a bit longer . It works like a charm. I have a beautiful bouquet of yellow tulips my hubby just brought home to me, and they are now in the vase with water and slits. 👍🤗
Melissa
great tip, I will try that with my next bouquet! ~Melissa