How to Care for Your Fresh Cut Tulips

Tulips are some of the most popular flowers to grow and give next to roses. With their vivid colors and sizes of red, white, pink, purple, and orange no other flower says 'Spring' quite like Tulips. There are literally hundreds of Tulip varieties to choose from. Tulips are usually sold in bouquets of a dozen or more often of the same variety and color. Many florist sell mixed bouquets of Tulips in their various colors that result in a wonderful rainbow of colors.

If you have fresh cut Tulips and want to keep them looking lively and bright for several days here are a few quick tips:

• If you don't have a vase or container to put your tulips in, get a vase and clean it with soap and water. Fill you vase with lukewarm water. You never want to put you fresh cut flowers in cold or hot water.


• Initially you will want to cut the stems of the tulips diagonally to allow better fluid intake. As a precaution to prevent the intake of air into the stems, cut the fresh cut tulips under water.


• Place the tulips in a vase filled with water. If your bouquet didn't come with any fresh flower nutrients you're going to need some. You can find them anywhere flowers are sold. Add the flower nutrients to the vase with the fresh cut Tulips.


• Check on your Tulips daily and cut the stems every 3-4 days to maintain water uptake.


• Extend the life of your fresh cut tulips by keeping them away from direct sunlight and heat. Place your fresh cut tulips in a cool place in your house. This will help prolong the life of your fresh cut tulips.


• Unlike other cut flower Tulips will continue to grow in the vase as much as an inch. You stems may bind or twist and may need to be cut often to keep the water shallow. (The twisting and bending behavior is caused by the dual effects of continuing stem growth and the gentle pull of light and gravity on the flower head.)

Some florists recommend adding pennies to the water or an aspirin to the water which is suppose to help the ph balance of the water. If you check your water daily and change it with a compliment of flower nutrients you will not need any household items or currency to keep your flowers looking fresh for a long time.

Care of fresh cut tulips is not hard and with these tips you can enjoy your fresh cut tulip bouquet for a long time. A fresh cut bouquet of tulips will look great in any room in your house.