Non Droopy Tulips

[Tilly2]

A friend of mine bought me some tulips, on Monday. This is the first time I have every put tulips in a vase and they haven't drooped.

What did I do differently?

I have no idea. They are still very much non-droopy.

http://i65.tinypic.com/usmy0.jpg

[gness]

You peered over your specs and spoke to them with your assembly voice?....x

[Tilly2]

I did. I said, 'Stand up straight!'

Well done, Gness. That must be it.

[bhg481]

We went to Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands a few years ago and were intrigued to see them pushing "bicycle spokes" down the centre of the hyacinths to keep them standing upright.

[gness]

Always works, Tilly......same way I get a wasp to fly back out the door......x

[jno]

you put some gin in the vase, thinking it was a glass?

[jno]

or vodka, it seems - perhaps that's only for Russian tulips

[MargoTester]

I always thought you put a pin or needle hole just under the head to keep the upright. (No innuendo intended :-) )

[Tilly2]

Bicycle spokes, Bhg? I'll have to remember that.

Jno, if you look very carefully at the picture you might just be able to see the slice of lemon.

Caught me out, you have!

[Robinia]

I don't remember ever having droopy tulips. I cut the bottom off the stems and if they've been allowed dry put them in water for an hour before removing the wrapping. One of my favourite flowers, I've got a lovely mixed bunch at the moment.

[Tilly2]

I didn't get them drunk or stab them with pins.

They are just really, well behaved tulips.

[Tilly2]

Robinia, mine have always drooped. :-(

They can look quite artistic when they have drooped but I always feel sorry for them.

[zebo]

The knack is to prick holes just below the flower. I told my late Mother to 'put a pin through the stalk below the flower in both directions to create a capillary effect'. When I called again she said they'd stayed non-droopy but all those pins looked daft. We always had a good laugh about that.

[Tilly2]

It's a shame she didn't take a picture, Zebo.

I'd not heard of the pin trick. I'll try that next time.

[rockyracoon]

A couple of pennies in the water stops them from drooping.

[Tilly2]

Do they, Rocky? I haven't heard of that either. No wonder my tulips have always drooped.

[Baldric]

Did you put a pointy blue tablet in the water?

[Tilly2]

No experience of pointy blue tablets. No need for them.
I do have ibuprofen though. Will they do?

[jno]

they will mean the tulips don't feel a thing when you stick pins in them, Tilly.

[Baldric]

Nor do I Tilly, but I have heard they can stiffen things up,
who'd have known?

[Tilly2]

I am not sticking pins in my tulips! That seems a bit pagan to me.

I'll try the pennies trick next time.