How to Care for Tulips

Tulips are vibrant, cheerful flowers that brighten any room. With the right care, you can keep your cut tulips looking beautiful and standing tall for much longer.

Step-by-Step Tulip Care

1. Keep them wrapped initially. Leave tulips in their wrap and place in a vase of water under a light source for about an hour before arranging. This helps keep the tulips upright for longer — tulips naturally curve towards the light.
2. Remove submerged leaves. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline in your vase.
3. Cut stems under water. Hold the stems under water in a sink or under running water, and cut about one inch off each stem with a sharp blade or cutters. Don't let the newly cut end dry off before transferring back to your arrangement.
4. Use flower food. Water to which a good flower food has been added is the best solution for fresh cut tulips.
5. Start with warm water. Place your tulips in a clean, deep vase of warm water (about 38°C / 100°F) mixed with flower food. If possible, leave them in a cool dark room or refrigerator to "condition" for 2–3 hours after arranging.
6. Keep cool. Temperature is key to tulip longevity. Display your fresh cut tulip arrangements in a cool area out of direct sunlight and drafts.

Keeping Tulips Hydrated

Tulips are thirsty flowers — they actually continue to grow after being cut! Make sure you regularly check that the vase is full and add preservative solution often. If set in foam materials, try to saturate the container daily.