To enjoy cut flowers as long as possible, and when it comes to tulips, you will surely want to avoid that they look fallen and the weight of the flower itself does not allow us to adapt them to the decoration.
How to keep tulips from looking droopy?
Whether you buy them or grow them with bulbs, tulips bring a touch of colorful elegance. These fresh cut flowers are among the most popular flowers used for weddings or arranged in a vase to brighten up any room.
Unlike many flowers, this member of the Liliaceae will continue to grow up to two inches after cutting when kept in a vase, but with a flexible stem and heavy blooms, however, tulips are prone to bending and falling as a result of the gravity and phototropism, a response that makes the flower want to orient itself towards the light.
These natural conditions and the tendency of some varieties to bloom downward make tulips prone to drop, but other problems can exacerbate the drop. Although fall is unavoidable when displaying cut tulips, steps can be taken to reduce the dreaded fall and keep our bouquet fresh and beautiful.
1. Use flower preservatives for tulips
Many pre-cut bouquets come with a small packet of flower nutrients to mix with the water. If you’re cutting tulips from your own garden or buying a bunch at a farmer’s market, you can find larger containers or flower nutrient packets online or at garden centers. Follow the directions on the package and your flowers should thrive.
2. Be aware of plant pairings
One spring bulb combination that seems obvious is a bouquet of daffodils and tulips. While they can look great together in a vase, you will notice that tulips fall off and dry much faster than daffodils. This is because daffodils release a sap into the water, making it difficult for tulip stems to take in water. If you want to keep your flowers in top condition, avoid putting them together with the daffodils in a vase.
3. Give them a spin
Tulips grow and bend towards the light, so you may notice that they start to fall off if they are to the side of the window. Rotate the vase every day to help the stems stay straight and each flower to receive even light.
4. Adequate hydration
Cut tulips must be kept in water and may take a few hours to fully hydrate. If you have received tulips wrapped in plastic, leave the bouquet in its packaging for the first few hours or overnight to keep the stems upright while they drink water. Be careful not to get the flowers wet to minimize the potential for premature molding.
5. Stem holder
Arrange the tulips in a taller, narrower vase. A glass that supports most of the length of the stem will help inhibit bending and prevent drooping.
