Tulips are popular for a reason, they are beautiful! A bunch of cut tulips in a vase can brighten up any space. Read on for some top tips on how to care for cut tulips.
Tulips are spring’s most coveted flower. Unlike other flowers, cut tulips continue to grow! They come in the most beautiful colors and look gorgeous alone in bud vases or even in a bucket.
If you’ve ever seen parrot tulips, they are absolutely stunning. Using proper care for cut tulips can help them last a week (or more!) and you can get them to stand up tall. Here are a few tips when caring for cut tulips…
How To Care For Cut Tulips – Step By Step
Table of Contents
1. Buy tulips that are not fully opened.
2. Cut 1/4 inch off the stems at a 45-degree angle.
3. Choose a taller vase at first to help the tulip stand up, as you cut the bottom throughout the week (#7) you can switch the vase to something smaller and eventually a bud vase.
4. Wash your vase well to remove all bacteria, use cold water for the tulips and a small amount of flower food.
5. Only use a small amount of fresh water in the vase at a time so the tulips won’t continue to grow. Check the water often as you’ll need to replenish it because they do drink a lot.
6. Like Gizmo from Gremlins (haha), keep away from direct sunlight.
7. If your tulips are wilted in the morning, no big deal! Cut their stems, put them in a taller vase, add a little cold water and they’ll stand straight up again.
Why Do Cut Tulips Droop?
Unlike many flowers, this member of the Liliaceae family will continue to grow up to two inches after cutting when kept in a vase, but with a pliable stem and heavy blooms, though, tulips are prone to bend and droop as a result of gravity and phototropism, a response that causes the flower to orient towards light.
If your tulip arrangement feels a bit “stiff” don’t worry, they’ll start to relax in just a few hours!
A Vase For Your Cut Tulips
Of course, you can always buy a stunning, traditional tulipiere- some pottery pieces are a great way to display individual blooms. No arranging required at all!
However, in the interest of simplicity and time-saving reality, buy a flexible vase (or two) that will showcase your tulips beautifully! The key is to use a wide enough opening, with a deep enough shape to support the weight of the stems.
You can go for a simple cylinder, or a wide cylinder to place in two bunches. You can also opt for a footed vase, which elevates the flowers nicely and gives them more prominence in your room.
Different Colored Tulips
Tulips come in a variety of colors, plant the same color for a stunning uniform arrangement or mix colors for a brilliant explosion of natural hues.
Each color tulip symbolizes something different. The most common interpretations are:
- Red = Love
- White = Purity, forgiveness and respect
- Purple = Royalty
- Blue = Tranquility and Peace
- Yellow = Good cheer!
Top Tips For Cut Tulips
- Buy tulips that are bot fully opened.
- Remove any excess leaves.
- Make sure to replenish the water often.
- Keep away from direct sunlight.
Check Out These Other Great Tips For Flowers
How To Make A DIY Wedding Bouquet by A Practical Wedding
How to Arrange Flowers in 9 Easy Steps by FTD by Design
If you have tried these tips on How To Care For Cut Tulips or any other tutorials on Sugar and Charm, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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Images via Vibeke Design, Jose Villa, Burlap and Blue, Jane We
lynn @ the actor’s diet says
Tulips (from a bodega) were my wedding flowers! I never know how to take care of them but I love having them around on my anniversary so thank you fo this.
Katie says
Thanks for the tips! I can’t wait to buy some fresh tulips this spring at the farmers market.
Eden says
You’re welcome Katie!!
Monique | WritingMonique says
Oh! These tulips look gorgeous! I love the first picture!
Eden says
I tried to pick the best pics, haha!!
Janet says
Good tips. I also read and pinned from another post I recently read to put a splash of bleach in the small amount of water instead of the flower food.
Eden says
Yes!! I read that too, such a great idea and people usually have that on hand, rather than flower food. Thanks Janet!