Tulips are synonymous with spring. Among the easiest flowers to care for, these cheerful blooms appear in a dazzling spectrum of colours. In the garden, tulip bulbs bring striking impact to borders and containers, while as a cut flower, few things brighten a room quite like a simple vase of tulips.
The diversity of tulips extends beyond colour. These iconic Dutch flowers can be found with single or double petals, delicate fringing, or dramatic, serrated edges in the case of parrot tulips. There are also elegant lily-flowered varieties, lush peony tulips and tall, graceful French types — proof that when it comes to tulips, the possibilities are almost endless.
Cut flower tulips
Cut flower tulips typically last between five and 12 days, but they're heavy drinkers, so it's really important to top the vase up with water regularly. Bloom & Wild florist, Caroline Grimble, outlines exactly how you can make your tulips last longer, as well as flower care solutions for common dilemmas.
How to avoid drooping tulips
1. Trim your tulips
Trimming tulips by 3-5cm allows water inside to hydrate them. Always cut at a 45-degree angle to give as much surface area to drink from.
2. Pop them in water ASAP
Tulips, like all flowers, use water to prop up their stems. Pop them in water as soon as you can to help them rehydrate and bloom.
3. Find their dream home
Keep your tulips away from direct sunlight and radiators (they'll dehydrate your stems) and fruit (it releases gases that'll make them fade).
4. Change their water
Tulips don't like drinking dirty water, so refresh your vase every few days and re-trim your stems by 1cm each time.
The Letterbox British Tulips
Why are my tulips floppy?
Don't worry, they're not dead. Tulips use water to prop up their stems so they're just thirsty after their journey to you. Help yours perk up by trimming them, popping them in water and then leaving them overnight. By the morning, your tulips will no longer look droopy.
Why are my tulips so much shorter than other stems?
They're naturally much shorter than other stems but they'll keep growing in your vase. Bloom & Wild's data scientist, Dave, carried out a tulip experiment to prove it: He measured some tulips on the day they arrived and they were 31cm on average. Then he popped them in fresh water with flower food and waited a few days. On day five, he took them out of the water and measured them all, one by one. On average, they'd grown by a huge 17cm.
So why do tulips keep growing in water?
Tulips are really responsive to sunlight and that's why they move. They're turning themselves towards the light sources around them, hoping to be seen by pollinators. You might also spot them opening up on sunny days and closing up at night time.
How do I keep my tulips straight?
If you want your tulips to stand up straight for a dinner party or special occasion, we recommend taking them out of their vase, tightly wrapping them with newspaper into a cone shape, popping them back in water, and keeping them in a dark room overnight. When you unwrap them in the morning, they'll be perfect.
Remember to rotate your vase throughout to prevent them from growing one way towards the light. We'd also recommend placing your tulips in a tall vase to help them stay upright.
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