Why don't tulips flop any more?

Couldn't you just snip half an inch off the stems if that's the case? I always do that with cut flowers (bought) anyway.

Oh, I see what you mean, Elegran - the snipping actually squashes the ends, forming an airlock...

I think that's it Elegran At least that's what I was told. The ones I bought from the florist flopped but didn't look half as good as Ann's picture. I also like the look of a table with a vase of flowers with one or two petals which have dropped. In my house that just looks scruffy.

Relax, I generally get mine to flop by forgetting to top up the water in the vase ?

I remember hearing about the pins years ago, but I've never tried it. The tulips I have bought from Aldi for the last few years have flopped beautifully but the last couple of bunches have stayed upright and the flowers haven't opened up

Sorry thatbags for delay. Been busy with visitors! Yes just stick pin through stems horizontally about inch from bottom and remove pin. Don't know exactly why it works though!

Thank you, mumofmad and elegran. The air bubble thing after snipping makes sense.

I think it depends upon the type of tulip, and how they've been grown. I used to do the pin-prick thing, and sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't. Just as some last longer than others, depending on how tired they are when bought. Sometimes the fresher they are, straight from the garden for instance, the more likely they are to remain upright.In fact, I prefer mine to flop and am disappointed if some stay resolutely upright.

They also continue to elongate, so it might have something to do with the type of vase they are in, as they continue to grow.

As I love tulips, am happy for them to do their thing. Upright or floppy, they are a delight.

I love the way you get two different characters with tulips- the uptight, formal type when you first get them, then - all being well - they turn into Bette Lynch, with a fag and a gin. I bet they've started breeding them so they stay formal. I love hyacinths - for their scent, but I believe they've started breeding ones without scent because there are so many allergies around.

Like others on here I have absolutely no idea why the pin thing works, I read it somewhere and tried it because to me floppy tulips look like dying tulips; not nice.

And I did hesitate over the wording of my first post.