How To Make Your Tulips Last Longer

Hello lovelies,

Spring is on its way and it’s the season for my ultimate favourite flowers – tulips! 🌷 How annoying is it though, when your fave blooms end up flipping all over the place?

I’ve seen a lot of Instagram stories recently showing others how to keep their tulips fresh. So I’ve researched, tried and tested some helpful tips to keep your tulips upright and looking as beautiful ever. Let’s get to them…

Fresh Flowers

First and foremost start with fresh flowers. Your fresh cut tulips should have bright green stems that feel crisp to the touch, sturdy and strong! I try to buy ones that are very “tight” or unopened, with buds still green and just showing a little color. Nothing is going to help your tulips avoid drooping if you start with old flowers that have already taken a turn for the worse. I get mine from the local market in town, they’re always good quality, cheap and cheerful. Other than that, I like to get them from Aldi too, they always last for so long!

The Right Vase

Your tulips will need extra support from the vase you house them in, make sure to choose one that is tall enough for your stems. Avoid those vases that curve outward at the top if you want your tulips to stay upright. If you use a wide topped vase, the tulips will follow that arch and start to droop. A well packed case will also help to keep them poker straight, I actually use a large hotdog jar for my tulips! This way they stay together and stand tall!

Fill your vase with clean cold water. There’s an old wives tale that says if you drop a penny made prior to 1981, it 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!

Trim Your Stems

I usually recut the stems at least an inch from the previous cut every few days or so. Many recommend that you cut the stems under water or under running water, so no air enters the stems to block the water vessels there.

I have to say I don’t snip them under water – but as I said above, I do trim the stems every three days or so to help them continue to keep fresh.

Look After Your Bunch

Did you know that tulips continue to grow once cut? This is because they are phototropic, meaning that they bend towards the light! I often turn my tulip vases to help keep them straight. Keep them out of direct sunlight and change the water daily if you can.

Pierce Their Necks

Ok that sounds a little morbid. If your tulips droop once they are arranged, try inserting a pin through the stem just below the head, then pull it out. The tiny pin prick holes let air escape to speed up the water flow to the flower head. As soon as the flowers are in the water air bubbles will rise up the stem and sometimes block the water from reaching the head. As a result the flower doesn’t get the required amount of water and starts drooping. The teeny holes next to the flower head acts as exit for the air bubble, thereby keeping the hollow stem block free.

If All Else Fails…

If you don’t want the hassle or give up trying, why not buy some fake ones instead? I got these fabric yellow tulips from eBay, 10 tulips for under £5.00.

What do you think? Have you tried any of these tips before?

Fun fact: Did you know that tulips were once worth more in weight than gold? – Mad right? You got my Pops to thank for that one!

See you in the next post,

Love Charlie x

Instagram | Twitter | Buy Me A Coffee