Do your tulips start to droop the moment you bring them home and place them on display? Do they hang their heads as though in shame? Not to worry, it's nothing a few short minutes and a safety pin can't remedy.
Naturally, it helps to begin by choosing the healthiest, most robust bouquet of tulips from amongst those on offer at your local florist shop.
Once you get your pretties home, trim the bottom of the stems to freshen them up and adjust their height to suit your vase of choice. Fill the vase with lukewarm water - no one enjoys the shock of being dunked unceremoniously into a tub of cold water.
Now for the magic: Insert the business end of your safety pin all the way through the middle of each flower stem approximately 1/4 of an inch below the base of the petals, creating a tiny hole.
That's it. That's all it takes to prolong the life and vitality of your tulips and keep them standing tall and proud.
I'm not sure why this works, but I think the 'air vent' helps the flowers draw water up the stem, allows the air to escape, and keeps them nourished longer.
25 comments:
Well, that is an oddity.
Maybe they're standing up like soldiers for fear you'll stab them again?
June: Lol. That may be true!
Such pretty colors, nice to know that you can find tulips out there.
Once you can find flowers the house becomes more of a home.
Jen
OMG...really??? I will have to try that???
Jen: Believe it or not, Safeway is our best source for good quality, fresh flowers. Having fresh flowers in the house is one luxury I love to indulge in and The Frenchman keeps me well supplied.
Caroline: This is Day 3 for my bouquet of tulips and they're still standing straight and looking lovely.
Thanks for sharing!
Wow!!! Never heard of that one!!! Our best source of flowers is our Vons...a member of Safeway and our only grocery store!!! I think there's one other place to get flowers, but it's so easy to just pick up while shopping for groceries!!
Thanks for the tip! I'll have to try that one...I love tulips!!!
Thank you, I'll do this next time. I grow protea, and this may sound mean, but the way to keep them looking nice in a vase is to bang the heck out of the lower part of the stem. Apparently this helps the water make it's way up -- it works.
Jane: It's too good not to share.
Chieftess: You'll be amazed!
Karin: Smashing the cut ends of roses helps them stay fresher longer, too. Ouch.
that's just weird!!! Smashing the ends of roses keeps them fresher too???
Wow! That's a good tip! I never knew that. I saw some tulips at Safeway this weekend but opted for a little bouquet of assorted flowers. I may have to go get some tulips now. Excellent!
xo Catherine
Chieftess: Yup.
Catherine: Simple and effective - my two favourite ingredients for success.
Wow--wonder if the pin hole would work on other flowers?
Thanks for the great tip, I'll try it. Do you think a pin would work too?
I had heard that a copper penny in the water helped, if it does it only a minor boost?
Shadowlake: I'm sure the pin trick would work with other flowers that had a similar structure. I'm not sure it would affect flowers with a different, woodier stem, like roses for example.
Gillian: I've never tried putting a copper penny in the water. I don't know what it would do.
In floral design class I learned that tulips and daffodils keep growing after they're cut and put in a vase. So I wonder if the safety pin trick stops the growing process so they don't get long and floppy. It's cool regardless and I'm going to have to try it next time I get tulips!
I've also put a little cornstarch in the water. Seems to keep 'em pretty perky.
Oh they're beautiful! One of my all-time favorite flowers. That's a good idea, will have to give it a go sometime. Don't you enjoy how tulips continue to grow after they're clipped too? No other flower I know of does this. Thanks for your kind comment on my blog Carolynn. I'm a wee bit envious of your brilliant blue skies. :)
Cindy: I didn't know that about daffodils and tulips! How strange and interesting.
Corrine: I haven't heard that tip either. I'll have to try in with my next bouquet.
C-ingspots: I really enjoy the brilliant sunny skies we enjoy here, too. We have to have something to make up for all the cold temperatures and snow we have. *grin*
Well...I've tried the trick of putting a needle through the stem of the tulip...and it works!!! My beautiful tulips are still quite spry after about a week!!! Thanks for the tip!!!
Now...about that smashing of rose stem ends...would that work for sunflowers???
I never knew this, and I love tulips, especially during the winter. The local grocery store is a good source for fresh flowers around here, too. Now I will be able to enjoy them so much longer thanks to all the tips shared here.
Chieftess: Yay! Isn't it nice to see them looking so healthy and spry? I don't know much about sunflowers, but it's worth a try.
Sharon: I've been enjoying my second batch of tulips. Their range of colours make it hard for me to pass them up.
OK, I have the day off and when I go run some errands, I'm bringing tulips home with me. I can't wait to try this...plus tulips are gorgeous.
That is so interesting. I absolutely love tulips and would be happy to stab them if it would help them stand up a little longer. Beautiful photos:-)
Thanks to this post, I was able to resurrect a droopy bunch of tulips given to me last week. I don't know why, but it worked and the flowers continue to look lovely after several days have passed. Thanks for passing this tip on!
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