Eight tips to enjoy tulips for as long as possible
When you say tulips, you say happiness, spring, optimism, freedom and above all: beautiful and intense colors. No wonder our Dutch tulips are so popular with enthusiasts all over the world! The tulip season starts in January and continues until about mid-May. Do you also want a bouquet of tulips and do you want to enjoy them for as long as possible? Then read on, because we have listed all the tips for caring for tulips in a vase for you.
1. Choose fresh tulips
You will find it in the Netherlands, because there is no better place in the world to grow tulips than in our wet country. You can see them in the fields from March onwards, while they bloom in the greenhouses in the months before. These tulips are traded every morning at the flower auction, so there are always fresh tulips available. Therefore, always buy your tulips from a florist who works with fresh auction flowers. This way you can be sure that the tulips will remain beautiful in the vase for the longest time. At De Duinroos we only work with fresh auction flowers. View our beautiful tulip bouquets here!
2. Cut the tulip stems diagonally
When you have your tulips at home, it is important that you immediately cut the stems at an angle. Use a good sharp knife for this, so that you do not damage the vessels in the stem. This way your tulips will be able to absorb their water best.
3. Let your tulips recover for a while
Many people immediately put their tulips in a vase after receiving them, but it is actually better not to do this. Tulips do not like sudden temperature changes. It is therefore better to let the tulips recover for a while and first wrap them in newspaper and place them in a (clean) bucket with clean tap water in a cool place, for example in the garage. By leaving them like this for an hour, the flowers can become fully saturated and they can get used to the temperature.
4. Place the tulips in a vase with clean water
When the tulips have acclimatized, you can put them in a vase. Please note that tulips are sensitive to bacteria, so always use a clean vase with fresh tap water. Add the cut flower food and also make sure that no leaves hang in the water, as this can cause rotting and bacteria. It is not necessary to change the water, but do add some regularly. This way your tulips always have something to drink. You can also add a little sugar to the water: this prevents the proliferation of bacteria.
5. Choose a tulip vase or other suitable vase
Did you know that there are special vases for tulips? Tulip vases , also known as horn vases, have multiple openings. You can place a separate stem in each opening, so that the stem is optimally supported and remains good for as long as possible. These vases were already used in the seventeenth century to provide the best possible care for the then extremely valuable tulips. Of course you can also use a classic vase to put your tulips in. Make sure that the bouquet has enough room to grow: tulips always grow a few centimeters in the vase.
6. Place your vase of tulips in a cool place without fruit and daffodils
To ensure that your tulips feel good in their new place, it is best to place them in a cool place and out of drafts. Also avoid direct sunlight, because tulips do not like that. In addition, make sure that you place the tulips away from fruit and daffodils. These spread gases that cause tulips to wilt more quickly.
7. Caring for tulips in the vase: use a needle to stop growth
As we already indicated, tulips always continue to grow a little in the vase. This causes the stems to become longer, which can cause the tulips to remain upright less proudly. To prevent this, you can use a trick. Take a sharp, clean needle and pierce the stem, just below the tulip bud. As a result, the stem of the tulip will no longer grow longer and the flower will therefore droop less quickly.
8. Tulip care bonus tip: put the vase outside at night
And finally, a bonus tip for those who really want to get the most out of the vase: put your tulips outside at night. Do this out of the wind and on nights without night frost. Tulips really love a bit of cold and this will ensure that they stay beautiful even longer.
Want to know more about caring for tulips in a vase?
By choosing auction-fresh tulips you are guaranteed a bouquet of tulips that will remain beautiful in the vase for at least a week. We provide a seven-day vase guarantee on all our bouquets. And do you follow the above care tips for tulips? Then you can enjoy your flowers for much longer. Want to know more about caring for tulips in a vase? Then simply contact us. Our florists are happy to tell you all about their passion and answer all your questions.
