Tulips are one of the most outstanding flowers. Read this guide to learn everything about tulips, their origin, their meaning, and how to grow and care for tulips.
About tulips
Tulips are annual flowers and bloom every spring. They are classified as perennial flowers and have more than 3000 species growing all around the world with different shapes and features.
Tulips have a long historical context. Although tulips are generally associated with the Netherlands, the tulip flower didn’t originate there. According to Amsterdam Tulip Museum, tulips were first found in the high plains of Central Asia.
Tulip was discovered by the Ottomans when they conquered this area in the 16th century. Fascinated by the unique beauty of tulips, the Turks took them to their country, where it was heavily planted in the gardens of the sultan and the richest dignitaries.
Later, in the 16th century, tulips were first introduced to Europe by Carolus Clusius, a pioneer botanist who was responsible for the huge spread of tulip bulbs in Europe. It was later introduced to the United States in the 19th century.
Amsterdam celebrates National Tulip Day in January, and the Tulips festival in March. Gigantic tulip gardens bloom everywhere and people around the world come to watch millions of tulip flowers.
Tulip festival Amsterdam
Tulip meaning and symbolism
When mentioning tulips, all we think about is pure love and loyalty. That’s true. But did you know that each tulip colour has a special meaning? Before we go through how to grow and care for tulips, here is what tulip colours mean.
Pink tulips
Pink tulips symbolize beauty, happiness, confidence, and purity. You can gift pink tulips on occasions of romance or anniversary. They can be the best gift for women too.
Purple tulips
Purple tulips are the symbol of royalty and decency. The charm of purple tulips is rare to find, and this can make the best gifts for occasions like weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays.
Orange tulips
Orange tulips are also rare and unique. They symbolize appreciation and respect. You can gift orange tulips to your friends or loved ones to express how much you appreciate and respect them.
Yellow tulips
Yellow tulips represent cheerfulness, happiness, joy, and excitement. You can gift yellow tulips to your friends on their birthdays, they will be on cloud nine!
Red tulips
The attractive warming hues of red tulips symbolize love, passion, and adoration. They are categorized as one of the best flower gifts for love occasions. So, if you want to say “I love you” to your person without saying I love you, just send them red tulips.
White tulips
The soft white tulips represent peace, purity, new beginnings, and forgiveness. They make a beautiful gifts for newly married couples and housewarming wishes.
When is the best time to grow tulips?
The best time to grow tulips is in autumn, as tulips need cool temperatures to grow and bloom at the beginning of spring. Tulips take 14 weeks to sprout little bulbs.
How to grow and care for tulips indoors?
If you are interested in growing some of your favourite tulips indoors, we got you a complete guide to know how to grow and care for tulips indoors, and it’s easy!
- Grab a broad bottom pot.
- Fill the pot with potting soil and place tulip bulbs at the surface.
- Plant the bulb so its flat side is against the inner rim of the pot.
- Water it once a week in the beginning, then leave it to bloom in spring.
- Make sure the soil is slightly moist in winter.
- When you start noticing the sprouting of leaves and bulbs, place the pot near a sunny window.
- They will bloom beautifully after 12-16 weeks.
How to make your fresh-cut tulips last longer?
If you will cut your tulips after growing, make sure to cut them while the bulbs are still closed, so they can last longer and grow in the vase. But, if you’ve got a bouquet of fresh tulips and want to keep them longer, check out these tips to know how to grow and care for tulips:
- Trim ½ inch off the ends of your tulips
- Place your tulips in a clean vase with cold water
- Cut the lower leaves, better to keep one green leaf
- Choose a narrow top vase for tulips
- Change water every few days for tulips
- Make your tulips get 6-8 hours of full sunlight
What is the best place for tulips indoors?
Tulips are the best flower decoration for the house. Here are the top 5 places where tulips can spread love in them:
- Beside living room windows
- On your work/ studying desk
- Home entrance with windows
- Kitchen
- Balconies
- Bedrooms with sunshade
Tulips will bloom a nice smell if you place them in
bright and sunny areas.
Want to buy tulips or gift them to your loved ones? Check our website & dive into the world of the tulip!
