How to Cut Tulips for Short Vases

Adding a vase of flowers to a room is a time-honored way of increasing that room's aesthetic appeal. Fresh cut tulips placed in a vase are a colorful way to accomplish this. Tulips will continue growing in the vase after they have been cut, so you will have to monitor them daily to ensure they have not grown beyond the bounds of their vase.

Pruning shears or knife
Paper towels

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the tulip stems so that the flower heads come up several inches beyond the lip of the vase. You may need to measure the depth of your vase prior to cutting to ensure you get the correct height. Cut tulips diagonally with pruning shears or a clean, sharp knife.
- 2
  Fill the vase with water.
- 3
  Cut off any foliage from the tulip stems that would be under the water line.
- 4
  Wrap the tulip stems in paper towels, then place them in the vase.
- 5
  Check the water level daily. Fill as necessary.
- 6
  Cut off 1 inch from the bottom of the tulip stems every four or five days. This will help ensure the tulips stay the correct height and will also encourage the correct amount of water absorption.

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