Use these easy tips to create beautiful tulip arrangements for spring and learn a simple trick to fix drooping tulips so they stay fresh and upright longer.
How to Arrange Tulips
Tulips have a way of lifting the mood of a room, especially during the long stretch of winter when everything outside feels gray. One of the simplest ways to add fresh color to your home is to pick up a bouquet from the grocery store or a local flower shop. A single bunch of tulips, or even better, two, can completely change the look of a table or countertop. Choose the freshest stems you can find, in any color you love, and you’ll have the start of a beautiful tulip bouquet. Below are my simple steps for arranging tulips so they last longer and look natural.
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement.
Choose The Vessel
My favorite flower vessel for tulip arrangements is, hands down, an ironstone pitcher. The simple shape and soft texture add to the beauty of the blooms, and it also solves a common problem. The stems of tulips can turn the water murky after just a few hours, even when it’s still fresh, so using something other than a clear glass vase keeps that from being noticeable. It’s also important to choose a vessel with a round mouth. The wider the opening, the more the tulips will spread and possibly droop, while a smaller mouth keeps the stems gathered together and standing a bit straighter.
Separate and Gather the Tulips
Begin with a vessel filled with cool water, sharp scissors, and a large bunch of tulips. I bought one bunch of pink tulips and one bunch of white tulips, for a total of 20 stems. Separate the tulips and remove any damaged or large outer leaves. One at a time, gather the tulip stems in one hand, making sure the blooms are as even as possible. (Pictured above.)
How to Cut Tulips
- Holding tightly to the tulip stems with one hand, carefully cut all the stems evenly. I have large hands, and as you can see in the image above, it was all I could do to keep the tulips together.
- If you cannot get all the tulips in one bunch, it’s fine to make, and then cut, two bunches. Just make sure the stems of both bunches are the same length.
- Don’t cut the tulip stems too short the first time. It’s better to cut them too long, and trim again if necessary.
- Tulips love to be cool, so drop an ice cube into the water.
Arrange Tulips in a Vase or Pitcher
All at once, set the group of stems that you are holding in your hand into your vessel. Make sure the ends of the stems are all the way to the bottom of your vessel. Let go of the stems, and let the beautiful blooms fall naturally.
Tips + Simple Tweaks
At this point, you can carefully remove and reinsert stems so the arrangement is balanced in size and color. Personally, I don’t worry about this. I don’t mind if there is a rogue tulip that sticks out too far, or if the colors are a little off. You can have beautiful arrangements without going for perfection. As you can see in the picture of the flowers below, the tulips all immediately drooped. I love this look, but if you prefer your tulips upright, read on.
How to Make Tulips Last Longer
- give them fresh, cool water every day
- trim 1 to 2 inches off the stems every few days so they can absorb more water
- remove any leaves that would sit below the water line
- keep them away from bright windows, direct sun, and lamps
- display them in a cool room if possible
- keep them away from ripening fruit, which can shorten their lifespan
Frequently Asked Questions
If you enjoy simple ways to refresh your home for the season, you might also like my spring decor guide, where I gathered easy and fresh ideas all in one place. For a small project, my Mod Podge terra cotta pots are an easy way to dress up basic planters with very little effort. And if you’re pairing flowers with something unexpected, my easy lemon and flower arrangement idea is another favorite for welcoming spring. Each one is simple, approachable, and perfect for this time of year.
JOIN THE OSP COMMUNITY
Sign up to get uncomplicated recipes, unlimited seasonal decor, and
understated ways to refresh your home sent straight to your email inbox!
amazon storefront
Discover simple and affordable
ways to refresh your home.
Follow my Amazon Storefront
for all my favorite finds!
Thanks for all the great tips on tulips. I never thought about putting pennies in the water. What a great idea.
I purchased the Mandy’s 28pcs White Artificial Tulips last year. They looked real. I also mixed them with real tulips of different colors. This made my tiny grocery store bunch look amazing.
Unfortunately, I took the tulips out of my dish closet a couple of weeks ago and they are yellow/brown. Do you have suggestions for storing them?
I look forward to reading your blog everyday!
~Theresa
Oh my gosh! I am so surprised. I store all my faux flowers and greenery in plastic bins with lids. My tulips are a few years old and still look brand new. Perhaps reach out to the Amazon seller and ask what happened?
USA pennies made AFTER 1982 are 97.5% zinc and ONLY 2.5% copper. So if you want to try the penny trick use pennies dated before 1982. Pennies actually continue to grow after placed in water. Check it out with a ruler.
I love Tulips to brighten my home in late winter. I usually buy cut flowers but this year I found a great sale on potted bulbs. Bought 4 barely opened pots of yellow 🌷with a total of 20 blooms. All opened and lasted almost 2 weeks.
I love tulips and m only complaint is that they droop so easily. Now Ive got to try this tip. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for the tip. I actually just bought a bunch of tulips!
Thank you for the penny trick I am going to try that for sure I get so much good information from you! thank you so much!
Thanks for another great tip…I always enjoy your posts.🧐
Great tip. I didn’t know about the penny trick. Thank you so much for sharing.
Love your tricks!
Copper Pennies, I absolutely love tulips and cut as suggested.. and will definitely add a penny to my drooping tulips. Your a classy lady & a top fan of your blog. Keep doing what your doing, it’s working!
I love tulips and had never heard this tip before. I’m definitely going to try it. Thank you.
Tulips are the only flower that keeps growing after you cut them, that’s why they droop. That’s what makes them graceful and beautiful, like weeping willow trees. The only time they are naturally straight is in the ground.
The tulips are beautiful, convinced me to purchase a bouquet of fresh flowers while I was out,
I also have various stoneware vessels, so will use these
Thanks for the ideas.
Karla
Great idea Ann! This solution is more difficult for us here in Canada as we no longer use pennies. I’ll have to dig around and see if I can find some hiding in a pocket or drawer. Lol.
Hi Christine…one of my readers left a comment that a little bit of Sprite in the water works too. Maybe try that?
Thanks, I will try that. (We DO have Sprite here.) 😃
Tulips are my all time favorite cut flower to place in a vase. I personally can’t wait for them to droop. It’s like they are talking to me and making me smile. It is amazing that a Penny can make them stand at attention though. Great idea but I will still continue to the them drooping. Love your blog!
Go to a craft store and buy a little copper wire
❤️❤️❤️ your ideas. Thanks for sharing and all the beautiful pictures we can download and print!🌺
What a wonderful trick. I had no Idea. Thanks for sharing. By the way the pitcher is beautiful.
I am jut blown away by the penny trick! I owned a florist for 20+ years and what I would have given to know this! I can’t wait to grab some tulips and drop a penny in the pot! Thanks a bunch 🌷🌷🌷💐.
Love, love, love your blog Ann!!! What a beautiful arrangement and thank you for the great penny tip! I look forward to next week’s blog. Have a great week!
Love the drooping tulips-don’t even remotely like the stiff upright look. To each his own I guess. Columbus has the same grey day! It’s February friends-how long can it last??!!
I loved this tip! Thanx!
Thanks Ann for the tip!
I love fresh cut tulips and have struggled with them drooping too. My solution was to cut them off shorter and shorter until they barely cleared my case!? Can’t wait to buy some tulips.
If you want perky stand up tulips all you have to do is take a pin or needle and put i through the stem JUST BELOW the flower head. Don’t know why this works, but it does.
This does work! I was told to do this by a florist and I have followed her suggestion.
OMG I am totally blown away by this! I’ve never heard that. Now I can’t wait to try it. Also love your pitcher and the perfect pink color in your tulips… :-)
Wow! Never knew that about tulips. I love them but sometimes would like them less droopy. Thanks for sharing.
GREAT tip on tulips. Old dogs can learn new tips. Thanks.
Great idea, Ann, about the pennies. I wonder if it works on hydrangeas? Pinned so I do t forget.
I love tulips, they look beautiful in the pitcher.Good tip about the penny,I will have to try it.
Good morning Ann! Love those tulips in your white vase! Pretty amazing how the tulips ‘perked up’ after trimming & adding the pennies. I’ve heard of that trick before and will try it. Wondering where do you get your lovely stone ware dishes, pitchers, etc? Are they the Lennox brand? I took a look at Amazon, they are a few out there, but not as pretty as yours. Thank you, as always, for your wonderful ideas & tips! Always look forward to your posts!
Great tip! I’ve never tried that before, but will give it a shot this spring! Tulips do look lovey in your white pitcher!
Wow! What an awesome trick! I had no idea…thank you for sharing this. Definitely going to be trying this little tip for some Spring decorating!
Wow! Great photo proof there! I worked for a florist in my youth 😊 and we always put a few pennies in the tulip buckets.
I love droopy tulips! But may try the penny trick as well. Think I’ll add tulips to my grocery list this week. :)
I’ve heard about the penny trick but never tried it. With your luck, I’m going to give it a go. I need some tulips to brighten my day!!
I love tulips and will definitely try the penny trick next time! I wonder if it would work as well for other flowers that tend to droop?
White tulips in the spring are my favorite for in the house! I will definitely try the penny tip! And alstroemerias are my other go to flowers, as they last so long. They can look lovely for almost two weeks! I would take these over roses any day!
I NEVER put them straight in a vase at room temperature but leave them overnight in a cool dark place in any sort waterfilled container preferably wrapped in watersoaked newspaper. After that I cut off large part of the tulip stems so that they can grow while in the vase and won’t droop.
If you take out the tulips after they have settled to cut the stem again I find the ‘arrangement’ loses its shape.
What a great tip and pretty tulips that add so much beauty to a space!
Also try adding a little bit of Sprite to the water….works well..too!