Tulips in a vase: 5 tips for arranging your tulips

Lukas

I studied agricultural sciences with full conviction - an obvious choice for me, as I grew up on my parents’ farm and learned early on to find joy in taking care of plants and animals.

Favourite fruit: grapes, mangos and bananas.
Favourite vegetables: brussels sprouts, spinach and potatoes

Tulips grown in the garden also look especially good in a vase indoors. We have tips on how to keep the beautiful tulip in vases longer for you.

tulip bouquet in a vase — Tulips in a vase bring a touch of spring indoors [Photo: New Africa/ Shutterstock.com]

Even when cutting the tulips, you can lay the foundation for them to last a long time in the vase. We explain what to look for when cutting tulips and how to keep your favorites lush, green and colourful for a long time.

1. Correctly cutting tulips

For optimal water and nutrient absorption, it is highly recommended to shorten the tulips a few centimetres before placing them in the vase. The cut should be straight – unlike many other cut flowers. Be sure to use a sharp knife for this so as to bruise the tulip as little as possible.

2. Leaves

Excess leaves should be removed. This allows the tulip to efficiently use its water and nutrient intake to maintain flowering. Some leaves can be retained for decoration, but the bulk should be cut off.

3. Fresh water daily

The tulip is a very thirsty flower. It needs a lot of fresh water to look strong and vital for a long time. In addition, water absorption occurs very quickly. We therefore recommended checking the water level daily. Occasionally, you should even change the water completely to keep it fresh and clear.

tulips drooping in vase — Check the water level of the vase daily: tulips are very thirsty [Photo: Nina_Hlupich/ Shutterstock.com]

4. Correct location

The tulips likes it rather shady and not too warm, once kept as a cut flower.

Also, find it a place in the home where it will be protected from draughts. Proximity to large windows, radiators and stoves immensely reduces the life of the tulip, as it evaporates a lot of water.

5. Not together with daffodils

Avoid placing your cut tulips in a vase together with daffodils. The daffodil secretes a sticky secretion on the stem that may interfere with the tulip’s absorption of nutrients and water. In the worst case, this leads to premature death of the tulip.