Caring for Fresh Cut Tulips

Tulips are a very popular flower, and many people enjoy putting a few fresh cut tulips in a vase as a centerpiece for their table or to brighten up a room. However, caring for fresh cut tulips can be a little different from caring for other cut flowers. Here are some basic tips on keeping your fresh cut tulips looking great for as long as possible.

•Be sure to check the water in the vase on a regular basis and add a bit if needed. Use room temperature water—tulips don’t like water that’s too hot or too cold.

•Before putting your tulips in the vase, remove any foliage that’s going to be in the water.

•To keep air out of the stem, place the fresh cut tulip under water and then cut the stem diagonally. Immediately move it from the water to the vase (put water in the vase first, of course).

•Every four or five days, take the tulips out of the vase and cut off about an inch of the stem.

•Do not put tulips in any vase that has had recut daffodils in it. If there’s any residue daffodil sap in the vase, it can kill the tulips.

•Keep your tulips out of direct sunlight, and don’t place them too near a heating vent. Too much heat makes tulips wilt.

•Moving your tulip arrangement to the coolest room in the house at night will help keep them looking beautiful longer.

•Remember that tulips will bend towards the light and that they will actually keep growing even after cut, so expect to see them tipping their heads towards the windows.

Following these basic steps to caring for your tulips will keep them looking amazing for a week or so.

What Message Are you Sending When You Do/Don’t Send Valentine Flowers?

Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us, and for many people, that equates to sending flowers. In fact, if you plan on sending fresh red roses, you should probably be ordering them about now to avoid being told “sorry, we’re all out!” But what if you don’t send flowers? What message are you sending when you send someone flowers on Valentine’s Day, and what message are you sending when you don’t?

If you’re sending flowers to your special someone, obviously the message is “I love you!” or at least “I care about you.” If you really want to go the extra mile to show that you care, you’ll send these flowers early (on Friday instead of Sunday, which is the actual holiday) to his/her place of work so that your significant other can show them off.

If you’re attempting to woo that special someone, sending an arrangement of flowers on or around Valentine’s Day is a great way of doing it. This sends the message of interest, and if he or she reciprocates, it can lead to a Valentine’s Day date and maybe even the start of a relationship. Of course, if he/she doesn’t feel the same way, you may find yourself a little lonely.

You can, of course, send platonic Valentine’s Day flowers to a friend or family member. Single friends often send each other roses on Valentine’s Day just for fun or to show each other how much they care. There’s really never any downside to sending flowers to someone, even if there is no romantic feeling behind it—just make sure if you’re sending platonic flowers that the recipient knows this so there’s no confusion.


Of course, if you don’t send flowers to your significant other on Valentine’s Day, you may be sending a message you don’t really want to send. If he or she (usually she) is expecting a bouquet of roses and doesn’t get it, you may be in trouble. Not sending flowers is one way of saying that a romance is over. Basically, if you don’t send flowers to someone who is expecting them, you’re going to hear about it eventually, and it may cause some trouble with your Valentine’s Day plans.

On the other hand, some couples don’t usually exchange flowers, and neither may want the other to go to the expense of ordering roses. However, in this case, a surprise gift of a single red rose or a small arrangement of three roses can be incredibly meaningful and score you some major romance points.

Finding Just the Right Flowers to Send for Valentine’s Day

Finding the perfect flowers to send for Valentine’s Day may seem like a difficult chore, especially for men. Sometimes, it just seems like it’s impossible to find that perfect arrangement. There are always the traditional roses, and while a dozen red roses will certainly do the trick, they may not truly speak to your significant other. Sometimes, there are other ways of saying how much you care.

For example, you can always get her a dozen roses but go with a different color. If her favorite color is hot pink, go with hot pink roses. Sure, tradition may say that pink roses mean something other than true love, but who cares what tradition says in this case? You can also mix different colored roses to create colorful, different arrangements that really speak to your significant other. Don’t let tradition hold you back—if she loves the color blue, ask if you can get blue tipped roses or add some blue flowers to the mix. Your florist can get incredibly creative.

Adding in lilies, tulips, and even things like sunflowers can really make creative arrangements that are still stunningly romantic. You don’t always need a ton of roses, either. One idea is to do a single red rose backed by other flowers that really make it stand out. Or you can mix in white flowers amid red roses to make them pop. Again, give your florist an idea of what you want and you’ll be amazed at what he or she can create.

Just because it’s Valentine’s Day and roses are the tradition doesn’t mean you have to give them, though. If your significant other doesn’t like roses, don’t send them! Instead, send her (or him) an arrangement of her/his favorite flowers. This might be a bouquet of lilies or tulips. Even if it’s not the traditional Valentine’s Day flower, it’s going to say much more than yet another bouquet of roses that aren’t truly appreciated.

Finally, don’t forget the extras. Flowers say a lot, but flowers and chocolates, a stuffed animal, and a balloon say a lot more. If she loves teddy bears, get a little stuffed bear to go with the arrangement. Many florists have little items like these available. Above all, make it personal—go with what you know he or she likes and what has meaning for you as a couple.