Flower care
How to keep tulips standing tall
Tulips keep growing after they are cut, which is why they droop and twist. Five simple habits keep them upright for a week or more.
Tulips are the only cut flower that keeps growing in the vase, sometimes by an inch or more. That is why they bend toward the light and flop over the rim. The good news: a few small habits keep them looking crisp.
1. Start with cold water
Tulips love cold water. Fill the vase with water straight from the tap and top it up every day.
2. Cut straight, not angled
A straight cut keeps the stem from resting flat on the bottom of the vase and drinking too quickly.
3. Choose a tall vase
Give them support for at least two thirds of their height. They will lean on the glass rather than fall over it.
4. Turn the vase daily
Tulips follow the light. A quarter turn each morning keeps them growing straight.
Our horticulturist's trick: wrap the bunch in newspaper overnight in a bucket of cold water to straighten tired stems.
5. Keep them away from fruit
Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which ages flowers fast. Keep your bouquet away from the fruit bowl.
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