FRESH CUT FLOWERS
Do you loooove having a fresh and fragrant pop of color (and nature) in your home? Have you recently signed up for a flower subscription service or gotten a bouquet and want to make sure it lasts as long as possible? I want to help! Maybe you just got a bouquet gifted to you, and are not used to caring for fresh flowers, maybe you have fresh flowers for an event and want to keep them picture-perfect until the event, maybe you are just looking for extra care tips on keeping your arrangements for as long as possible, either way, I want to make sure you get the longest vase life out of your flowers.
Most freshly cut flowers, whether you pick them from your garden or order them online, will last about 5-7 days with proper care. This vase life can vary for many reasons, but the biggest reason they will die prematurely is that the recipient of a bouquet will get the arrangement, plop it in water, and “forget” about it.
If you want to get the most out of your fresh flowers, follow the following tips:
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Trim the stems of your flowers, it is best to do so at a 45-degree angle. Cutting the stems helps open them up again so they can best absorb water. The 45-degree angle ensures the stem has enough exposure to the water, cutting straight across leaves the stem flush with the bottom of the vase in most cases.
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Make sure you use a clean vase. Fill the vessel up with fresh, clean, cool water- and make sure to change the water as often as possible, I recommend every day, but every 3 days is okay for most stems. Leaving the water unchanged allows for bacteria to grow, which will prematurely wilt the stems and cause them to fade quickly
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Make sure to remove any leaves or foliage that will fall below the waterline, this too, can cause bacteria to form more quickly
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Keep the flowers out of heat and direct light. Unlike rooted plants, cut flowers don't benefit from bright light. Sun and heat will cause the flowers to age more quickly which means shorter vase life. .
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Keep your flowers away from the fruit on your counter. Ripening fruit gives off an odorless gas called ethylene. This gas is harmless to humans, but contributes to the aging of other fruits and cut flowers.
