How To Keep Flowers Fresher For Longer

Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh for Longer

Whether you are buying flowers freshly cut from a florist or cutting them from your own garden, you probably want them to last longer. Cut flowers tend to last the longest when placed in environments that are most closely near their living conditions before they were cut. Such environment includes proper nourishment as well as reducing the growth of bacteria. This is why you will always see some crazy-sounding cut flower tips such as add a teaspoon of sugar and vodka to the vase water or lemon juice, white vinegar and sugar. Other tips may include adding a pinch of salt, soda pop, baking soda, adding crushed aspirin into the flower vase before adding water, and even allowing a copper penny settle to the vase’s bottom. Even the ordinary bleach is sometimes recommended for fresh cut flowers, despite discolouring the stems.

This post is meant to prevent you from going through a lot of experiments and simply follow simple steps that have been tried and proven to work when it comes to helping your cut flowers last longer.

Avoid getting flowers from a convenience store, and instead purchase from a florist. Contact your favourite florist beforehand to find out which options are the freshest. A fresh flower will last longer.

Select only long-lasting flower-chrysanthemums, daisies, carnations, daffodils, peonies, lilies, dahlias, anemones, gladiolas, and orchids.

Choose the flower that has closed or partially closed buds that will open at a later time. Ensure that the leaves and stems of the flowers you choose are green, springy and strong.

Only purchase when you can get your flowers home and place them into water as soon as possible.

Set reasonable expectations of how long you want your flowers to last. Do not buy flower that have thin petals such as tulips, freesias, and irises. Even roses should be avoided since they are very fragile.

Fresh clean water is the most essential ingredient that will keep your flowers fresh for longer. However, your flowers should be able to absorb as enough water as possible. Follow the following simple steps to accomplish this:

·        Choose only strong and fresh flowers

•         Place your flowers in a container that does not crowd them, to prevent the stems from rotting faster.
•         Place your flowers in tepid water and fill the container only half-way. A container full of water will make the stems to rot faster.
•        Remove the branches and leaves that would otherwise fall under the water line to enable the flower absorb nutrients well.
•         Cut the stems under running water and place them into a container with water immediately.
•        Some flowers require special way of cutting and care. Ask your florist for any special caring tips when purchasing the flowers.
•        Use a florist knife or florist shears to cut the stems and avoid using household scissors—they might wrongly cut the stems and hinder water intake.
•         Although sugar is important in providing nutrients to the flowers, it can also cause more bacteria. Use sugar with something acidic to enable the stems to absorb water.
•         Place your flowers in cool places and away from fireplaces, heaters and direct sunlight.
•         Change water every day to prevent bacteria from building up in the container.

Starting with fresh flowers and keeping the vase water clean, fresh and uncrowded, will make your cut flowers to last longer.