A bunch of tulips from your own garden on the table. That may be the most beautiful thing a flower bulb can give you. Many bulbs make fine cut flowers, as long as you pick them at the right moment and look after the vase. Here you can read which varieties work best, when to cut them and how they stay beautiful for as long as possible.
Which flower bulbs make good cut flowers?
These varieties do well in the vase:
| Flower | Flowers in | Pick when |
|---|---|---|
| Tulip | March to May | the bud shows colour but is still closed |
| Daffodil | March to May | the bud bends sideways and shows colour |
| Iris | May to June | the first colour peeks out of the bud |
| Allium | May to June | about a third of the small flowers are open |
| Lily | June to August | the lowest bud shows colour |
| Gladiolus | July to September | the lowest one to three flowers show colour |
| Dahlia | July to October | the flower is fully open |
Tulips, daffodils, irises and alliums are planted from September to mid-December. Gladioli and dahlias go into the ground in spring, once it no longer freezes. Lilies can be planted in autumn or in spring.
When and how do you pick flowers for the vase?
- Pick early in the day. In the morning the stems are full of water. They then stay firm for longer.
- Choose the right moment. See the table above. A tulip that is already fully open drops its petals quickly in the vase.
- Cut at an angle with a sharp knife. An angled cut gives the stem more room to take up water.
- Leave foliage on the plant. If you want the bulb to return next year, cut only the flower stem and leave as much foliage as possible. The foliage makes food for the bulb.
- Put them in water straight away. Take a bucket of cold water with you into the garden.
How do you keep tulips and other bulb flowers looking good for longer?
A few simple habits make a big difference:
- Use a clean vase and cold, clean water.
- Remove leaves that would sit under water. This prevents rotting.
- Change the water every other day and trim the stems a little each time.
- Put the vase in a cool spot, out of the sun and away from the radiator and the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit makes flowers wilt faster.
Tulips keep growing a few centimetres in the vase and bend towards the light. For straight stems, roll the bunch tightly in newspaper for a few hours and stand it in cold water like that. Afterwards they stay straighter.
Daffodils release a slime from their stems that makes other flowers go limp. That is why you first stand daffodils in water on their own overnight. After that you can add them to other flowers, without cutting the stems again.
Gladioli open from the bottom up. Remove the faded flowers at the bottom and the spike stays beautiful. With lilies you can carefully snip off the stamens. The pollen stains clothes and tablecloths, and it is poisonous to cats.
Can amaryllis go in a vase?
Yes, in two ways. A cut amaryllis stem often lasts two weeks in the vase. The stems are hollow and heavy, so use a sturdy vase with little water and change the water often.
You can also place the whole bulb in a glass vase, without soil. The bottom of the bulb sits just above the water, with only the roots in it. That way you see the roots grow and the flower come up. Read how it works in amaryllis bulb in water, or see all amaryllis.
How do you create a cutting garden?
If you want lots of flowers for the vase without emptying your border, make a cutting garden. That can be a separate bed, a strip in the vegetable garden or a few large planters.
- Plant in rows. That way you can easily walk between them and cut. Tulips for the cutting garden can go closer together than in the border, about 10 cm apart.
- Choose a sunny spot. Almost all bulb flowers flower best in full sun.
- Spread the flowering. Combine early and late tulips, or plant a row of gladioli every two weeks in spring. That way you have something to pick for weeks on end.
- Support tall varieties. Gladioli, dahlias and lilies can blow over. A few canes and some string along the row keep them upright. For more on gladioli, read planting and caring for gladioli.
How do you put together a bouquet by colour?
A bouquet from your own garden does not have to be complicated. Three combinations that always work:
- One colour, different shades. For example white daffodils with white tulips and some greenery. Calm and elegant.
- Opposite colours. Purple allium or iris with yellow daffodils or yellow tulips. These colours make each other stronger.
- Soft pastels. Pink, apricot and cream mixed together. Lovely in a low vase on the table.
Choosing your bulbs by colour? In flower bulbs by colour you see them together, colour by colour.
Frequently asked questions about bulbs as cut flowers
Which flower bulbs are suitable as cut flowers?
Tulips, daffodils, irises, alliums, lilies, gladioli and dahlias make lovely cut flowers. A cut amaryllis also lasts a long time in the vase.
How do you keep tulips looking good in the vase for longer?
Pick them when the bud shows colour but is still closed. Put them in a clean vase with cold water, change the water every other day and keep the vase in a cool spot.
Can an amaryllis bulb go in a vase?
Yes. Place the bulb without soil in a glass vase, with only the roots in the water. The bulb itself stays dry.
How long do gladioli last in the vase?
Usually a week to ten days. The flowers open from the bottom up, so remove the faded flowers at the bottom.
Can you put daffodils in a vase with other flowers?
Yes, if you first stand them in water on their own overnight. Do not cut the stems again afterwards, or new slime will come out.
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