The Care and Feeding of Tulips
Don’t you just love a sunny bunch of tulips in the midst of a cold and grey winter?
But they sure can be tricky little rascals to keep alive if you aren’t careful…
Over the years, I’ve learned more than a few tricks. So if I buy them fresh I can typically keep them alive for about two weeks. Which is a little longer than the “experts” say cut tulips will last.
What to Know About Tulips
1. How to Choose Your Vase
Tulips can actually keep growing after they are cut. Isn’t that so cool?
It’s why finding the right container is important…
Make sure whatever vase you choose is at least half the height of your tulips. Otherwise they can break their little necks…
Ain’t nobody who loves tulips wants to see that…
2. Feeding and Watering Tulips
Tulips really like water. Be sure to wrap the stems in a wet paper towel on the way home from the grocery store or flower shop.
If you are lucky enough to have nice folks in your grocery store’s floral department, they will do it for you. Like mine do!
Once you are home, immediately immerse the tulips in water while you are unloading the car.
When you are ready to start arranging them, cut a few inches off the bottom of each stem. Be sure to cut it on a bias so the stem has more space to soak up water.
Speaking of water… haven’t all of us heard the old wives tales about the best things to add to flower water to keep them alive?
Over the years I’ve tried everything from pennies to aspirin to lemon juice.
Then I stumbled across this article from REAL SIMPLE magazine where they tested a variety of things to add to water to keep fresh flowers thriving longer.
The winner?
Those little food packets that come with the flowers!
And for the record… cold water is best.
Every day or so you should change the water and add fresh food. I get three or four feedings from each one of those little packets.
Because tulips keep growing, you will likely need to cut a little off the stems again the next day.
3. Tulips Seek the Sun
One final tip I’ve picked up is that tulips seek the sun even after they’ve been picked.
In the photo above, I had just moved the tulips from a room where they didn’t receive much light.
The photo below is the next day in a spot where the sun comes in to the room from above the staircase behind them.
(See how their little faces and arms are reaching toward the sunlight above?)
So location matters. But arms up or arms down…the tulips look beautiful!
And speaking of pretty y’all…
Did you figure out one reason I’m sharing my tulip photos with you?
I’m practicing taking photos in Manual mode on my camera and…changing the Aperture!
Look at me all professional like right?
Promise when I’ve picked up a few more skills in my photography class I will do a post on it and share what I’ve learned.
Let’s Stay in Touch
As always, thanks so much for stopping by…
I hope before you leave, you will take a minute to “Like” Roots North & South’s Facebook page.
I just set it up this month and I’m trying to make a few new friends!
XO
Shelley
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