Nothing says “spring” like an arrangement of bright, gorgeous tulips fresh from the garden shop. Because let’s be honest, they’re not coming from my garden. Uhh, I don’t even have a garden-haha!
Tulips are my favorite go-to flower during the months of March, April and May. They’re the perfect pop of color to integrate into my home decor, and they make me so happy when I see them scattered throughout the house. They’re especially great for gifting, or centerpieces. Click here to see how I displayed them on my dining room table just a few weeks ago.
Not only are tulips beautiful to look at, but they’re actually a pretty sturdy flower, and can last up to 10 days if you know how to care for them correctly. Keep reading for tips and tricks to create a long-lasting arrangement. Enjoy! xoxo, Laura
Choosing the right ones
Although you may be tempted to buy the fully bloomed tulips, the smarter choice is to choose the young, tightly closed buds. If you can find ones that haven’t fully developed their color yet, that’s even better! It only takes a short time for the buds to open, which will make more time for you to enjoy them. Once you’ve chosen just the right batch, make sure you get them to water immediately. You’d be surprised just how quick a tulip can dry out…even if you’re just going from the flower shop straight home. For instance, the ones you see here were closed when we got them, and within 20 min out of water, some of them started to open up.
Prepping them for display
Don’t wait to cut the stems of your tulips. They will last longer if you do it while the buds are still closed. You’ll want to cut at least a quarter inch off the bottom…maybe more depending on your vase size. For this particular round vase, I cut them shorter to fit. And make sure you’re cutting them at an angle. This will help them to readily soak up the water. Next, make sure you remove any leaves that may be under the water of the vase. You know when the water get’s all green/brown looking, and starts to smell foul? That’s because you didn’t take off the excess leaves. Try it out! This way your water will stay clear until the flower dies.
Finding the perfect vase
For tulips, it’s key to find a vase that covers at least half the height. That way they are able to lean against it, without drooping over. Next, fill with cold water. This is key! Warm or hot water will cause the flower to become weak and soggy, instead of crisp.
I love this Kate Spade Bowl Vase! It’s perfect for any kind of flowers…especially peonies. They are my absolute favorite!
Creating your arrangement
Position the tulips around the vase. Arrange the tulips so they each have their own space vs. leaning them on top of one another. Making room for each will prevent them from crushing the other – these flowers are delicate! If they’re touching each other, then it will cause the tulips petals to drop. Take the time to make them look good. You may want to cut them at different heights for good, overall aesthetic. Also, intermixing different colors is fun too!
P.S. My top is on clearance for $8 right now!
Tips to keeping your tulips thriving
• Keep the vase out of the sun. You’d think the opposite typically, right? Wrong. If it gets too hot, or sunny, the tulips will wilt and die.
• Water often. Tulips love very cold water, and drink it up fast! Make sure it never empties completely, or else your tulips will wilt very quickly.
• Add flower food. Typically flower shops provide this to you at the time of purchase, so make sure you actually use it! You can try putting pennies or lemon juice into the vase to make them last longer, but research doesn’t actually show it works, but it’s worth a shot!
• Don’t mix & match. Tulips are best kept in a vase by themselves. Flowers in the Narcissus family, such as Daffodils exude a substance that causes flowers to fade faster.
• On a budget? I recently purchased these Real Touch Tulips, and they are phenomenal! They look and feel so real. Definitely worth it for instant satisfaction!
Tulips courtesy of Kar-Fre Flowers. For all you locals that haven’t checked them out, you need to! They do great work, and offer unbelievable flowers, and customer service.
