QuestionI am making a tulip maid of honor bouquet and centerpieces for my niece. The wedding is six hours away from my home. I plan to pick up the flowers on Thursday and travel for six hours. Is there a way of slowing down the opening of these tulips so it will not so open by Saturday afternoon? Thank you.
AnswerI suggest that you bring a box with a lid - a box long enough and wide enough for the amount that you plan on purchasing - if you can line it with newspapers and under a layer or two of the newspaper sheets, place a cold gel pack or two ( not ice as you take the chance of freezing the flowers ). When you get the tulips, wrap the individual bunches in moistened newspaper in a firm tight bundle - tape or tie semi-loosely with ribbon. Wrap the stems in soaked newspaper or paper towels - I even would place plastic baggies around the stems & wet paper and tie them with a rubber band. Once all the tulips are placed in the box, cover them with more newspaper. You can also try and place some cold gel packs on the sides of the box between the layers of newspaper. You want to keep two things in mind ... cold, but not freezing and keeping the tulips wrapped in newspaper - foil gift wrap paper also would work nicely. Reason is that the cooler temperatures will keep them from opening and the wrap will also prevent this from happening. During your 6 hour trip, stop and take a peek - also, when you keep them in your car, choose an area that will not have direct sunlight and perhaps the A/C directed towards the box. Once you get to your destination, it is best to find a place where they will be kept in a refrigerator or cooler away from fruits & vegetables - I keep my tulips at a 38 F degree so that they won't open before their time. Re-cut the stems at an angle and place them in small buckets of water, closely packed together - but, enough air can circulate through them - I choose not to use floral food on bulb flowers ... but, some people do. Good Luck and I hope that your niece's wedding turns out lovely!
