Spring flowers: How to keep tulips fresh longer in a vase

Few flowers symbolize spring more than the tulip. With their bright colors and elegant shape, they bring a fresh, light touch to any vase. But often this joy is short-lived. The stems droop, the leaves wilt, and after just a few days, these once-proud harbingers of spring look rather sad. However, with a few simple tricks, their lifespan can be significantly extended.

Cut fresh - but properly

Before placing tulips in water, the stems should be cut diagonally with a sharp knife. This increases the surface area for water absorption. Important: Use a clean blade! Blunt or dirty tools can damage the vascular pathways and introduce bacteria.

Only cold water and not too much

Tulips like cool temperatures. Lukewarm water accelerates the aging process, while cold water keeps them fresh longer. Only a small amount of water should be placed in the vase—about one to two centimeters deep. Tulips drink a lot, but they rot quickly if they stand in too much water.

Bacteria are the enemy of any cut flower. Therefore, it's important to thoroughly clean the vase before filling it and change the water daily. If you like, you can add a drop of lemon juice or a small piece of copper coin to the water – this has a mild antibacterial effect.

No company with daffodils

As beautiful as mixed spring bouquets are, tulips don't mix well with daffodils. The latter release mucilage after cutting, which contaminates the water and harms other flowers. If you still want to mix them, you should first soak the daffodils separately in water for 24 hours and then add them to the tulips without freshly cutting them.

The right location

Tulips prefer a cool, shady location away from drafts. Direct sunlight, heaters, or nearby fruit bowls (which emit the ripening gas ethylene) will cause the flowers to age faster. A bright spot away from direct sunlight—such as a north-facing windowsill—is ideal.

A bit of wildness is part of it: Tulips continue to grow even in a vase – sometimes several centimeters – and tend to bend toward the light. This isn't a defect, but rather part of their natural charm. If you don't want this, you can re-cut the tulips regularly and place them in a tall vase, which provides a bit more stability.

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