"Tulip"    

1. Unpack your flowers straightaway.

2. Use a clean vase. Fill it with clean, cool water and add a floral preservative solution, following the instructions provided. This will promote full opening of the flowers and keep the water clean and free of bacteria. Tulips do better in shallow water 2 inches (5cm) deep but this needs to be topped up very frequently.

3. Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems, preferably under water, at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase. Make sure that you cut the stem end where it is green. The white basal area does not take up water well and is best removed.

By doing this you help your Tulips to maintain water uptake. Air bubbles and debris tends to collect in the bases of the stems and ,if this is not removed, water flow in the stems is greatly restricted. The cut should be at an angle and not flat across. You do not want the flower stems resting flat on the bottom of the vase since this will also restrict water uptake.

4. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed. The heads may need to be supported until they become fully turgid. Place in a cool location for 5-6 hours. You can cut the stem ends and stand in a vase while the Tulips are still wrapped. This will keep them straight and supported until they recover.

If the stems are bent on arrival, they can be straightened out by wrapping them tightly in wet paper and supporting them upright in water with a light positioned directly above them.

5. Keep Tulips in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid drafts. They do not like very hot or cold areas. In a hot place in the direct sun Tulip flowers will not last very long. It is best to provide an evenly lit spot for Tulips bend towards light. Do not mix tulips and daffodils in the same vase.

Caring For Your Tulip Flowers

1. Check the water level frequently and top up the vase with cool water. Change the water every 3-4 days.

2. Regularly remove damaged or dying flowers and foliage. Tulip stems continue to grow and lengthen in water and will bend towards the light. So you may need to recut the stems to suit the vase.

3. It is a good idea to remove the flowers from the vase and cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems every 3 or 4 days. This will maintain good water uptake.

4. If the flowers run dry and droop, you can give them a fresh recut. Then place in cool water in a cool location and they will frequently recover fully.

Flower Life

If you give your Tulip care, it is a long lasting flower - 3-4 days opening up and 7 more days when open.

Tulip Types For Cut Flowers

Practically all varieties used for cut flowers have a single bloom per stem. The flowers open up flat when fully mature. Stem length and size of bloom varies with variety.
As cut flowers there are four basic types of Tulip, according to the shape of the flower:-
1) Single Tulip with rounded petals.
2) Double Tulip with rounded petals.
3) Parrot Tulip with fringed petals. Single form.
4) Lily-flowered Tulip with pointed petals. Single form.