All You Need To Know About Tulip Flowers

Tulip flowers are known for their variety of colours and perfectly symmetrical bulb shape. Tulips are from the same family as lilies and onions. It has a rich history of over a thousand years and is known to symbolise perfect love. The name tulip derived from the word “Turban”, a headwear worn by Turkish men because of its resemblance. Tulip flower was originally cultivated by the Turks back in the Ottoman Empire and was later imported into Holland in the 16th century. Hence, a native to Central Asia and Turkey, and not to the Netherlands which is now the main producer of commercial tulips.

Do you know that tulips in the Netherlands once cost 10 times more than a normal working man’s salary? It is beyond our imagination that a tulip flower can be this attractive in the market, but it is a fact. Back then, it was called “Tulip Mania”, a frenzy sale of Tulip bulbs which made them more expensive than some homes in the 1600s. This crazy phenomenon was started by a demand for rare striped and speckled tulips. Later, it collapsed in 1637 due to its outrageous prices.

The magical thing about tulips are their vibrant colours. But did they exist naturally? It was due to a colour-breaking virus in the 1600s and later on, some colours are cultivated by botanists except for classic blue. Many growers tried cultivating blue tulips for a long time but their outcome of blue tulips still ends with some tints of purple. Unlike the usual bright colours, there is a popular deep purple tulip called Queen of the Night which is the darkest of any tulips. The flower is so dark that it appears black under certain lights.

Tulips come in almost all rainbow colours and each of them represents different meanings. It will be an attentive gesture to first know about the meaning behind the colours before choosing the colour you need.

The most common colour, red symbolizes passionate love. It is evident that red tulips are given to someone who is dear to you. A bouquet of red tulips is an expression of “I love you”. It is not only suitable for your romantic partner; it could be for your family member or a very close friend.

If you are unsure which colour is most suitable for your friend or acquaintance, a fresh bouquet of orange tulips named Kristen is available for you. It serves as a token of friendship and shows that you care a lot about the friendship. If you are looking for a colour that exudes elegance and royalty to impress the queen of your life, it can never go wrong with Constance, a purple tulip bouquet. Pink tulips can be an expression “Congratulations!”. You can get a pink tulip bouquet, Chantal, from our website which is a suitable choice to celebrate milestones such as a job promotion or graduation.

White tulips are commonly related to forgiveness, apology, purity, honour, and faith. Thus, white tulips give an expression of “I’m sorry,” and it is common to pay respect for funerals or wake. A long box of fresh tulips in pink and white which go by the name Hyacinth and Rebecca respectively are available in too. It is suitable for people who like to arrange flowers and flaunt their creativity.

Back in the Victorian era, yellow tulips mean “You have sunshine in your smile”. The dazzling yellow tulips encourage people to have cheerful thoughts as it is a symbol of happiness. It could be a gift for someone who is having a hard time. A bouquet full of bright yellow tulips will be great to cheer your loved one and remind them to keep smiling!

How to care for tulip flowers in a vase

When you receive a bouquet of tulips or happen to purchase for yourself, you can consider arranging them in a vase to uplift the atmosphere. You can place a small vase of tulips beside your bed or office table to add a touch of colour and scent to your environment. What’s next, is a quick guide for you on how to maximise the lifespan of tulip flowers.

Fresh cut tulips can survive up to 7 to 10 days in a vase when they are properly taken care of. The most important step is to ensure they have adequate water intake. Fill in fresh water up to ¾ of the vase and remember to change the water every few days as tulips dislike drinking dirty water. When you refresh your vase, cut 1 inch of the bottom of each tulip stem as well. But, why the hassle? Once they are snipped, they will continue to bloom and grow taller.

Tulip flowers love sunlight. They require 5 to 6 hours of sunlight each day to grow optimally. You can place tulips in partial shade by the windows. Although they grow best when they receive full sunlight but just like other flowers, full burn of the sun is not ideal for their growth. Their stems will naturally respond and bend towards light and you may notice drooping stems in taller tulips. Do not worry as this is not a sign of wilting. To prevent this, you can change them to a taller and narrower vase to maintain it upright. Another way is to rotate their position around the sunlight. Drooping is an inevitable phenomenon. So, embrace their graceful curves as they age.

By following the steps above, it can prevent the tulip bulbs from rotting and wilting early. Aging is inevitable for flowers and tulips will also discolour over time. You can use dried tulips and compress them into a frame or use them for artistic purposes too.

To take care of flowers is not easy but as long as you are consistently caring for them, they will continue to bloom beautifully for you!

There are many other interesting facts about tulips

Tulip flowers have long been associated with 11th anniversary celebrations. This classic flower is sheltered by the cup-shaped bulb and has a soft dark centre that represents the heart. A tulip bouquet with 11 bulbs can never go wrong if you are celebrating a new decade with your partner as a symbol of love and devotion.

Tulips also have medicinal roles that can act as a moisturizer and have antiseptic properties too. By taking a few tulip flowers, you can immerse them in hot water. Dip the towel in water then put the petals on the towel and crush them. Apply the crushed petals on insect bites, rashes, stings and burns on the skin for 10 minutes and they will recover gradually.

These facts make tulip being more than just a beautiful flower. Not only does it have a long history, it has captured the hearts of many people over the years due to its abundant colours and versatility.