How to Care for Your Cut Flowers: Tips for Longevity

Nothing brings a room to life quite like a beautiful bouquet of fresh cut flowers, right? They add cheerfulness, color, and some of the outdoors life to our homes. But those colorful flowers can turn wilty fast if not properly maintained. Don’t worry! I have you covered with some easy, friendly tips to help you enjoy your cut flowers for as long as possible.

Choose the Right Flowers

When you’re out foraging for flowers, choose the freshest, healthiest blooms. Opt for varieties with bright colors, sturdy petals and youthful green leaves. It was like picking a friend, choose the ones that seem full of life! Skip any that look wilted or have browning leaves, they simply won’t stay fresh as long. If you’re buying from a florist or a market, find out when the flowers were delivered. The fresher they are, the longer you’ll be delighted to see them!

Prepare the Stems

Trimming of stems: Get out some sharp scissors or a knife and trim the stems on a 45-degree angle. This little trick increases the surface area for water absorption, allowing your flowers to drink up all the goodness they need. Water uptake can be blocked if the stems end up sitting flat on the bottom of the vase after a straight cut. Pick the right flower vase

Remove the Leaves: Pull off any leaves that will be in the water. This keeps the bacteria from getting into the plant, and your bouquet wil keep looking pristine and clean. If you have any flowers with sap (especially certain types of lilies), it is a good idea to rinse the stems in warm water before placing them in their vases to keep the sap from clogging up the stems. See our flowers for this season

Use Clean Water

Let’s have our vase filled with clean, lukewarm water, just like a cozy bath for your flowers! Cold water is an alarm to them, warm water allows them to suck up moisture more easily. If you have a packet of flower food, stir it in. It’s like a healthy little snack for their blooms so they stay happy! If you don’t have flower food, make your own by mixing a teaspoon of sugar and a splash of vinegar or lemon juice into the water. The sugar helps in the nourishment, while the vinegar and lemon keeps the bacteria away.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Put your bouquet in a cooler place, away from heat sources and sunlight. Flowers love a little light, but too much and they can droop faster than you can say “blooming beautiful.” They love indirect light and a perfect spot will keep them vigorous! And make sure to keep them away from drafts, heaters, or heat-generating appliances, these can all quickly shorten their lifespan.

Change the Water Regularly

Change the water every two to three days to keep your flowers thriving. When you do, remember to, Swirl some water in the vase to remove any bacteria. Re-trim the stems a little, so they can drink up, A fresh cut helps drastically so the flowers can take in more water, Add in fresh flower food if you have it.

Keep Them Cool

Flowers do better in cooler temps, so you might want to relocate your bouquet into a cooler room at night. Taking this simple step, can help you enjoy their beauty, a little longer. It’s like tucking them in for a warm night! If you’ll be gone for a few days, put your flowers in the refrigerator (space permitting) to give them a temporary boost. Just be sure to keep them away from fruits and vegetables, because those give off ethylene gas that will cause flowers to wilt.

Remove Wilting Flowers

Over time, some of those flowers may start to wilt. Feel free to exclude them from the picture. It not only helps keep your bouquet looking fresh, but also gives the other blooms a chance to drink up more water. Plus, it’s an opportunity to show them some extra love! If you see any browning or mushy stems, those are signs that it’s time for a haircut or a toss.

Consider Flower-Specific Care

Some flowers have their peculiarities. Here are some tips for common varieties:

Roses: Snip off thorns and leaves below where your roses will be in the water, for cleanliness and to deter bacteria. If you see any brown edges on the petals, just dab and that can extend the bloom.

Tulips: They continue to grow, even after being cut, so a fresh cut can help them stand tall. If they start wilting, try wrapping the stems in a newspaper for an hour to revive them.

Lilies: Pluck the pollen sacs to prevent staining and keep those blooms pristine. Lilies also like things a bit cooler, so feel free to give them some additional shade.

Daisies: They thrive in cooler temperatures, so keep them away from fruits, which produce ethylene gas that can cause wilting. They also enjoy a good round of drinks, so keep that water fresh and super high!

Conclusion

Flower experts say your flowers can brighten your space for a long time with just a little time, love and care. By selecting new blooms, preparing them just so they can blooms wonderfully, fill them with pure water, and place them in a comfortable environment, you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous display that lights your days. Well then happy Happy Day of the Beautiful Flowers to you too, and let those beauties blossom!. We offer same-day flower delivery.

Author of the Blog : Shruti Maurya