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Flowers are a common gift for any of life’s special occasions and even the moments in between. Whether you have received a bouquet for an anniversary, a graduation or as a centerpiece on the coffee table, you will want to look after them so they will continue to brighten up the room and bring cheer to it
The sad truth is that flower bouquets don’t last forever—at least, not on their own. Luckily, there are things you can do to help your flowers last longer. If this is something that you're interested in learning more about, read on for five tips that will help make fresh flowers last longer.
One of the most common mistakes people make after receiving flowers is to leave the stems intact. Use a pair of clippers to cut one to two inches off and do so at an angle. Angling the stems allows water to enter the stems easily so the bouquet keeps fresh longer. After the initial cut, be sure to trim again a few days later.
Aside from cutting the stems off, you'll also want to prune the flowers. Remove any leaves that are beneath the water level. If you don’t, they’ll decay and add bacteria to your vase that will rot the flowers. Some flowers, like roses, have guard petals which are the two or three outermost petals. Remove these so that the flower can open up completely.
While pouring bleach into a vase of water sounds like the worst thing you could do to your flowers, it actually helps keep them alive longer. The bleach helps kill off any bacteria in the water, or on the stems or your vase, and also helps keep the water from turning cloudy. You only need a small amount; a few drops will do, or 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in 1 litre of water.
Apple cider vinegar, mixed with sugar, can act as an effective antibacterial agent. This will also help to balance the pH balance of the environment, preventing the water from becoming too acidic. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 2 tablespoons of sugar and add this mixture to the vase with water before adding your flowers.
Even with the mix-ins, it's still important to freshen up the water in the vase regularly if you want to keep your flowers alive for longer. I recommend changing the water every other day. You can also give your vase a good cleaning with dish soap, which will get rid of any bacteria. Add new sugar, which promotes longevity in your flowers, and any other additives that you might need for your flowers.
There is a reason florists keep their flowers in refrigerated spaces, and many people have believed that flowers thrive in cool environments. The lowered temperatures slow down the ageing process, especially in summer, when the mercury rises. Simply place your flowers in a vase and put them in the refrigerator before bed at night, and leave them there for six to eight hours the next morning.
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you make your fresh flowers last for longer. As you can see, there are a slew of different things you can do to lengthen the lifespan of your flowers. While this may seem rather tedious, it will be worth it as you’ll be able to keep your flowers around for longer periods of time.
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