Many people are used to growing tulips in their flower beds and landscaping, but to grow them as cut flowers to put in a vase, you need to use a whole different set of tools and techniques.
One of the most delightful surprises of tulips is that they continue growing even after being cut! Unlike other cut flowers that simply open and then fade, cut tulips have a fascinating habit of actually elongating and “stretching” while in the vase. But why does this happen, and how much extra growth can you expect from cut tulips? Let’s take a closer look at this unique trait.
Tulips Can Grow Several Inches After Cutting
While exact growth varies by cultivar, most tulips elongate 4 to 6 inches after cutting. However, some tulips like Darwin Hybrids or Giant Darwin Hybrids may achieve up to 8 inches of extra length while in the vase!
This growth occurs because the stems continue reaching for light. During the day they angle toward sunny windows. At night, they close up slightly. It creates a dancing spiraling effect that showcases the flowers beautifully.
Timing Matters – Buy Tulip Buds, Not Open Blooms
To maximize vase life and growth potential, it’s ideal to purchase tulip stems when buds are closed but colored up. Avoid buds that are still green. Fully open blooms from the florist will have much shorter vase life.
Closed, mature buds have the best potential to slowly unfurl in the vase over 7-10 days They elongate the most as they bloom Once open, growth stops.
Proper Care Boosts Growth
To encourage ample growth after cutting:
- Recut stems at an angle to improve water flow
- Change water daily – tulips are very thirsty!
- Keep stems in cool spots away from heat sources
- Give light trims every few days as needed
The Science Behind Growing Cut Stems
So what makes tulips gain extra height after cutting? It’s due to:
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Apical dominance – Auxin hormone produced in the tips promotes upward growth. Removing tulips from the bulb triggers a final growth spurt.
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Phototropism – Stems growing in the light curve toward sunlight coming through windows.
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Nyctinasty – At night, tulip stems close up slightly due to circadian rhythms.
Understanding the science behind tulip growth allows you to present cut stems at their best!
Enjoy Tulips’ Distinctive Dance
The continuous elongation of cut tulip stems makes for a uniquely lively and graceful floral display. As they slowly open and spiral in the sunlight, it’s like watching a beautiful ballet!
Other cut flowers may last longer, but no other bloom mimics the way tulips seem to dance in the vase. It’s a botanical phenomenon to enjoy.
So don’t be alarmed when your just-cut tulips start “growing” in the vase. That’s just what tulips do! With proper care, you can expect at least 4 to 6 inches of extra height, and up to 8 with Darwin Hybrids. Buy buds on the verge of opening, change the water daily, give occasional trims, and then sit back and watch your tulips put on a stem-stretching show!
Are there any Tulips that will give me the best of both worlds? A landscape flower AND a cut flower?
Yes. Darwin Hybrid Tulips, such as “Apricot Impression” and “Mystic Van Ejke,” and some Single Tulips have stems that are over 24″ long and very tall. A 10–12-inch stem can be cut for the vase while still having almost all of the leaves on it. This is necessary if you want the bulbs to bloom again the next year.
Most other Tulip varieties are too short to harvest a usable stem while also leaving enough foliage behind. Also, keep in mind that cut flower tulips are bred to be annuals, not perennials, so they won’t reliably bloom again even if they aren’t picked. The picture below shows where the flower should be cut so that there is enough stem foliage for the bulb to grow. This short stem length is unacceptable for most growers.
Why can’t I just cut the Tulips in my landscaping and use those in a vase?
You can, but the stem will probably need to be cut at ground level to make it long enough.
Some types of tulips are naturally shorter, as you can see in the picture below. To get a stem that you can use, you’d have to cut them off at the bulb.
When the flower and stem are cut off from the bulb, it can’t make food or get energy again. While the bulb may produce leaves/foliage the following spring, it’s unlikely it will ever bloom again.
Trust me on this. I didn’t believe this was true and was determined to prove it wrong. I cut off 400 tulip blooms at the soil level and left the bulbs in the ground to see if they would bloom again. And they did… I finally got 2 tiny, pathetic blooms… 3 years later. 3 years!!!!.
It’s usually a waste of time to try to replant bulbs that have been separated from the stem. It’s best to compost them.
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FAQ
Do tulips grow back after cutting?
Why do tulips keep growing once cut?
Do tulips open up after being cut?
Will tulips flower more than once?
Do tulips keep growing after being cut?
“Unlike other flowers, tulips keep growing after being cut. The movement occurs as the stems grow upward, while the large flowers respond and grow toward the light. The flowers open wide during the day and close at night.” How long do cut tulips last in a vase?
Can tulips be used as cut flowers?
Tulips can be used as cut flowers. However, growing Tulips specifically for this purpose requires a different method and mindset compared to growing them for landscaping. Let’s compare and contrast the two methods:
Do tulip bulbs need to be cut off after blooming?
Some Tulip types have short stems and require cutting at the bulb to obtain a usable stem. When you cut the bloom and stem away from the bulb, the bulb has no way to photosynthesize and re-energize itself.
Do cut flower tulips regrow if not harvested?
Cut flower Tulip varieties are not Perennials and will not reliably regrow if not harvested. They are bred as Annuals. The photo below shows where the bloom would need to be cut in order to leave enough foliage on the stem for the bulb to generate. This short stem length is unacceptable for most growers.
Can tulip bulbs be planted close together?
When growing tulips for cut flower use, you can plant Tulip bulbs closely together. We nestle them together like eggs in a carton, allowing you to grow a lot of Tulips in a small space. This close spacing encourages the Tulips to grow long, straight stems. The photo below shows approximately 100 Tulip bulbs.
Why do tulips Bob and weave?
There are reasons tulips seem to bob and weave in the vase. According to tulip expert David Caras. “Unlike other flowers, tulips keep growing after being cut. The movement occurs as the stems grow upward, while the large flowers respond and grow toward the light. The flowers open wide during the day and close at night.”