I bought the first tulip bouquet of the year on a dark and slushy weekday evening on my way home from work. The colorful and wonderful tulips immediately brightened up my home and my mood. Tulips can last surprisingly long if you take care of them properly. Here are my best tips on how to make your tulips last longer in a vase 💐
Instructions for tulip care:
1. Choose a firm, budded, and local tulip bouquet
Be careful which tulip bouquet you choose in the store. Choose a firm and budded tulip bouquet, as the flowers are then fresh, vibrant, and bloom for a long time. The flowers should be firm and the leaves intact and green. If possible, also choose a local tulip bouquet, as they are usually fresher than imported ones, which means they also last longer.
2. Choose a tulip bouquet that has been stored cool
Choose tulips that have been stored in a cooled environment in the store, so that they remain fresh and vibrant. When tulips are stored at 4-7 degrees, it helps to slow down the blooming and delay their wilting. The flowers are also kept in the dark or in low light so that they do not get too tired before being sold. This is why tulips bought from flower shops often last longer than those bought from grocery stores, as they are often stored cool.
3. Choose a suitable and clean vase for the tulips
Choose a tall and stable vase for the tulips and sufficiently deep with plenty of space, as tulips grow in length. The classic tulip vase is the glass vase designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto in 1936, the Aalto vase. In a 160 mm vase, 30 tulips fit. Always remember to wash the vase so that there is no dirt or bacteria left from previous bouquets.
4. Cut a new stem end and place the tulips in cold water
Cut a new straight stem end on the stems, about 2 cm off, so that they absorb water more easily. Rinse the stems thoroughly under running water. The tulips can benefit from being placed in cold water for a while, and if you have received preservative for the flowers, add it before placing them in the vase. This helps the buds open faster and improves the durability of the flowers.
Invest in good garden shears so that the tulip’s stem remains as healthy as possible when you cut the stem end. With high-quality shears, it is easy to cut the stems to the right size for the vase. I use Fiskars universal shears, florist shears, and all-purpose garden shears.
5. Change the tulips’ water and cut a new stem end regularly
The stem end should be cut new every 2-3 days to keep the flowers fresh longer. At the same time, change the water in the vase. This helps prevent bacterial growth in the water and ensures that the flowers get the necessary nutrients. If the water looks dirty or smells bad, change it immediately. Rinse the vase thoroughly when changing the water. Tulips need enough water to stay fresh and vibrant, so check this daily.
6. Store the tulips cool overnight
Tulips keep best in a cool place, around 4-7 degrees Celsius. If possible, move the bouquet to a cooler place overnight, such as in the refrigerator. Storing tulips in the refrigerator helps them stay beautiful longer.
7. Enjoy your beautiful bouquet
Enjoy your beautiful bouquet and let it bring joy to your home 🌞
Tulips are beautiful and lovely winter-spring flowers and come in many different colors. They are also easy to care for and properly cared for they last a long time in the vase. Tulips are a nice gift for yourself or a friend.
Tulips are particularly popular in the Netherlands. If you visit Amsterdam in the spring, it is definitely worth visiting the spring tulip garden called Keukenhof. In Amsterdam, I also recommend visiting the Bloemenmarkt, the world’s only floating flower market.
Quick tips for tulip care:
- Choose a firm, budded, and local bouquet.
- Cut a new stem end and place in cold water, in a clean vase.
- Change the water every 2-3 days and cut a new stem end.
- Store the tulip bouquet cool overnight.
- Tulips last longer with daily care.
Questions and answers about tulip care
Tulips last in a vase on average 7-14 days. How long tulips remain beautiful in the vase depends on the quality of the flowers and the care.
Good care, such as changing the water regularly, cutting the flowers, and using preservative for flowers, can improve the durability of the flowers. It is also important to ensure that the flowers are in a bright place but protected from direct sunlight and that they are placed in a cool place. Local tulips usually last longer than imported flowers because they are fresher.
Cut a new straight stem end on the stems, about 2 cm off, so that they absorb water more easily. Rinse the stems thoroughly under running water.
Tulips like cold and clean water. Change the water for the tulips daily.
If the leaves are yellow and dry, the tulips have been without water for too long. If the petal tips are wrinkled or dried, they have frozen. In such cases, the flowers may not open at all.
Tulips are cold-resistant but do not like frost. They can tolerate low temperatures, about -5 degrees Celsius, but if the temperature drops below -5 degrees, it can damage or destroy the flowers.
Tulips do not tolerate frost. They are cold-resistant, but they do not tolerate the coldness of frost. During frost, the roots can freeze and destroy the flowers. If tulips are planted in the garden, they need special protection during the winter because they do not tolerate frost. It is recommended to cover them with garden fabric or soil over the winter.
Tulips can wilt if they get too little water or if the water is not clean. If the roots stay in the water, they can start to rot, which leads to the flowers wilting. Tulips need fresh air to bloom, so the room must have sufficient ventilation. The room must also not be too hot or too sunny. Keep the tulips in a bright place but protected from direct sunlight and in a cool place. Additionally, if the flowers are too old, they may start to wilt. Therefore, choose a firm and budded bouquet in the store that has already been stored cool in the store.
Choose a tall and stable vase for the tulips that is sufficiently deep and spacious.
Caring for cut tulips is easy. With these care tips for cut tulips, you will definitely manage.
The cutting of tulips can be done with a sharp knife or secateurs, straight, and about 2 cm of the stem can be cut off.
Tulips are best stored cool overnight. The refrigerator is a good place to store tulips overnight.
Tulips, like all bulbous flowers, thrive in cold water. The coldest water possible is recommended for tulips. Unlike roses, which prefer warmer water, you can add ice cubes or snow to the water for tulips. Cold water helps keep tulips fresh and vibrant longer.
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