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Easy ways to keep tulips pretty & perky for over 1 week
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Nothing says "spring" like a beautiful bouquet full of sweet tulips. These flowers tend to have shorter vase lives than others, but by choosing tulips with unopened blooms, setting them in indirect light, and refreshing the water daily, you can make them last for up to 10 days. Follow along with us as we share all the tulip care tips you need to keep your flowers perky and beautiful for longer!
Things You Should Know
- Select a tulip bouquet that is full of lightly colored and tightly closed blooms.
- Cut the stems at a 45° angle, remove the bottom leaves, and place the tulips in cold water.
- Set the vase in indirect light away from heat and change the water daily.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo you cut tulips diagonally?Denise Porcaro Tupper is a Floral Design Expert, as well as the Founder & Owner of Flower Girl NYC. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she specializes in curating lush, whimsical bouquets, large dramatic installations, and everything in between. Denise has worked with notable clientele including Vogue, Chanel, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs, and has also had numerous collaborations with companies such as Liberty of London, Gap, and Coach.A slanted angle is preferred but, depending on what you're working with, it is not necessary. The idea behind the slanted cut is that you'll give the stem more surface area to be able to soak up more water.
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QuestionWhat are the most beautiful tulips?Denise Porcaro Tupper is a Floral Design Expert, as well as the Founder & Owner of Flower Girl NYC. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she specializes in curating lush, whimsical bouquets, large dramatic installations, and everything in between. Denise has worked with notable clientele including Vogue, Chanel, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs, and has also had numerous collaborations with companies such as Liberty of London, Gap, and Coach.Well, they are all beautiful. The choice usually boils down to personal preference or the kind of arrangement you want to make. If you're doing a low lush arrangement, then I would stay with the shorter tulips, whereas if you want something more wild and free, then go for something like a french tulip.
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QuestionWill my tulips last longer if I place them in the fridge overnight?Community AnswerYes, this works for most flowers, tulips included. If you don't have enough room in your fridge, you can just take the vase to the coolest part of your house. For example, place tulips in the hall, right in front of the front door, if it's the coolest there. If it's not below freezing point outside, you can also just keep the tulips on the balcony or porch overnight.
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Tips
- Leave the plastic wrap around the tulips for a couple of hours after you put them in the vase to help keep the stems straight.Thanks
- For extreme bending, wrap your tulips tightly in damp newspaper and place them back in the vase of cold water.Thanks
- Place the tulips in an irregularly shaped vase if the stems are twisted.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- The general rule of thumb for arranging flowers is that the bouquet should be about one and one-half times the height of the vase. Tulips work well in tall, straight vases.
- Keep tulips at temperature at or below 75 degrees F or 23 degrees C. The cool temps will sustain bright tulips.
- When you cut tulips, try cutting them on a diagonal angle instead of a straight angle.
- Fill the vase with lukewarm water, not ice cold, which is taken up better by the stems.
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Warnings
- Immediately place tulips in water after cutting them so they don’t dry out.Thanks
- Aspirin, lemon juice, pennies, soda, and other materials don’t reliably extend the life of tulips; they are mostly just myths.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://prettydiyhome.com/how-to-make-cut-tulips-last-longer/
- ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ https://amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/pages/growing-guide
- ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uIOKQ7FkHE4?t=161
- ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ https://amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/pages/growing-guide
- ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/handle-fresh-cut-tulips-18062984.php
- ↑ https://prettydiyhome.com/how-to-make-cut-tulips-last-longer/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To care for fresh cut tulips, start by filling a tall vase with cold water, which will help keep the tulips fresh and crisp. Then, arrange the tulips in the vase so they're evenly spaced and not leaning on each other. Keep an eye on the vase and fill it up with more cold water whenever it's low so the tulips don't wilt. Also, keep the vase away from direct sunlight or heat so the tulips last longer. For more tips, like how to cut tulips so they stay fresh longer, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Tulips are my favorite flower, and I want them to last as long as possible. Your instructions were clear and concise, especially including the pictures. I bought 20 tulips today, as I really needed a lift. I can't wait to see how they bloom. Thank you." ..." more
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"Tulips are my favorite flower, and I want them to last as long as possible. Your instructions were clear and concise, especially including the pictures. I bought 20 tulips today, as I really needed a lift. I can't wait to see how they bloom. Thank you."
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"Received two bouquets two weeks apart. One bouquet lasted almost a week, and the other only two days before dropping. Your article has explained a lot. I will purchase the next bouquet myself and treat them better. Knowledge is power. Thanks."
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"Helpful tips to try, like cutting stems under water and not leaving them on a windowsill in direct sunlight. That explains why mine drooped. I thought it might have been because they were in a vase with roses."
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"A great read with great tips. I love having tulips and fresh flowers in my home at all times! Wrapping them in wet paper was one thing I never heard of. Flowers make people feel happy."
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"I bought cut tulips and did not know how I should care for them, or how much water to give them. Great to have advice at your fingertips."
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