I bought my first bunch of tulips in yonks the other day and wasn't sure if I should trim the ends. They're still tight little buds but they're keeling over, so I trimmed one vase full, no difference, do tulips do this naturally, is this why I stopped buying them?
Tulips always keel over. I used to fight with them myself but decided that the best thing to do is go with the flow and put them in a container that will allow them to fall in an interesting arrangement after they have drooped. Once I stopped the fight, they started to look better!
They do this cause they are still growing after they are cut, who knew.
Now is the time of year when the widest variety of tulips is available. Flower stands will be brimming. For longest vase life, buy tulips with flower heads just starting to open (the bud should be closed, but with the color of the flower evident). Before arranging tulips, condition them by re-cutting the base of the stem with a clean sharp knife. This will open up the flower's water uptake channels. Cut flower food is not necessary for tulips. Tulips are particularly thirsty. Check water level daily. Refresh or change water daily for longest vase life. With proper care, tulips should open and last from three to seven days. Keep away from sources of heat (including direct sunlight, radiators, lamps and television sets
Taken from
http://www.gardening.about.com
Ah, thankyou ladies. I bought them cos they've got a flame orange at the tips coming from a yellow base and I was just taken with them, then when I got home I couldn't remember when I'd last bought tulips and had no idea what to do with them. When they keeled over I was livid. I've tried every vase I have so basically they're now in a droopy arrangement. Ah well. Back to daffs as soon as they arrive. 99cents a bunch a TJ's. Yeah!
Re OK, I don't know where to put this, cut flower ?
hehehe if I remember rightly it was called *carry on nurse * and the flower was a dafodil
Ye gods JohnA, that's going back awhile, mind I remember too. lol
Ye gods JohnA, that's going back awhile, mind I remember too. :lol:
I got the movie AND the flower wrong ANNE the mind fades as you get older .
hhhe . here is the correct movie and referance ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_On_Nurse
I thought of Wilfred Hyde White, having his temperature taken, as soon as I saw the thread title.
I know someone who lays the whole bunch of flowers in tepid water, stems and flower, for an hour before putting them in the vase, she swears that they droop less.
with tulips my mum always pricked just below the head, at the top of the stork, with a pin. She said this stops the drooping. I have no idea if it worked or not - wasn't one to pay attention to such details. But it could be worth a try.