My cheap as chips hack helps Mother’s Day tulips last longer & you’ve probably got the key item in your kitchen cupboard
IT’S a staple Mother’s Day gift.
But flowers often don’t last very long, especially when you’re given a bunch of tulips.
However, one flower expert has revealed a clever hack to make them last even longer – and you’ve probably got what you need in the kitchen cupboard.
“Tulips are a go-to for Mother’s Day and they’re extremely popular throughout spring,” Alex Biggart, Brand Manager at 123 Flowers, said.
“It can be difficult to maintain their vibrancy but our tips and tricks should make tulips last for a couple of weeks after Mother’s Day.”
Firstly, Alex suggests using a toothpick.
“Take a toothpick to create a small hole underneath the flower head,” he explained.
“This allows air to escape when the flower drinks water so they don’t droop over at the top.”
You should also change the water in the vase every two to three days.
And to give the flowers an extra boost, add ice cubes and a teaspoon of sugar to the water.
“Tulips thrive in cold water and sugar provides much-needed nutrients,” Alex said.
When you put the tulips in water, make sure you “use a knife to diagonally slice the stems on a 45 degree angle to maximise surface area to absorb water”.
“You should also remove any leaves below the water line as these will die and cause bacteria to build up,” Alex added.
If you spot any soggy stems, you can carefully trim the bottoms off – keep a close eye and check them every couple of days.
And don’t be tempted to over fill the vase either.
“A couple of inches of water is usually fine for tulips so they don’t over drink,” he said.
Positioning is also important – keep the vase away from heaters and don’t press them up against the window either.
“These steps can help you get the maximum benefit from your beautiful bouquet of tulips and enjoy them for longer,” Alex concluded.
Unsurprisingly, flowers are one of the most popular Mother’s Day gifts.
According to Google trend data, collated by the founders of RISE Coffee, there’s been a 1250% search increase for ‘Mother’s Day flowers’.
“Flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift for a reason, and an arrangement of her favourite blooms is sure to bring a smile to her face,” they said.