Cut flowers are always so beautiful, but unfortunately, they don’t last forever. Follow these tips and tricks for cut flower care so you can keep that bouquet alive longer!
Tip #1: Change the Water
Changing the water in your vase helps to flush out the bacteria that live in the water and the ends of your stems of flowers. The bacteria clog the ends of your stems and inhibit the flower’s ability to draw up water. We recommend changing the water every day, or at least, every other day. Refill your vase with cool or room-temperature water.
Tip #2: Keep Them Out of Sunlight
Cut flowers are different than plants; they hate sunlight! The sun will warm up the flowers and the water they’re in, making a very happy breeding ground for the bacteria we just talked about. Keeping them out of the sunlight will keep the temperature down and reduce the speed at which the bacteria multiply.
Tip #3: Reduce Ethylene Gas
Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring gas produced by plants and fruits that causes fruit to ripen and flowers to bloom. Certain types of fruit produce more ethylene gas than others. Bananas, apples, oranges, pears, etc. produce lots of ethylene gas. If you keep a bowl of these fruits near your flowers, they will act as a catalyst for the “ripening” or blooming out of your flowers. Have you ever wondered why grocery store flowers never last? It’s because they’re kept in the produce section, amongst a ton of fruit that gives off a lot of ethylene gas! By the time you buy them, they’ve been exposed for hours or even days. That’s why flowers from a florist always last longer; we don’t have nearly as much ethylene gas around our flowers and we ensure that they are properly processed when they arrive from the flower farms to extend their vase life.
Tip #4: Refrigerate Your Flowers
We’ve had many customers tell us that they put their flowers in their refrigerator at night to help extend their life. Refrigeration helps to slow down the blooming process and prevent bacteria growth. One customer told us her hydrangeas lasted three weeks because she put them in the refrigerator every night! Just make sure your refrigerator isn’t too cold – 38 degrees is perfect for flowers.
Tip #5: Remove the Leaves
Removing the leaves from the stems of your flowers will help to extend the life of your flowers as well. When a flower has leaves and a bloom to maintain, removing the leaves means that the flower will put all of its energy toward keeping that bloom beautiful. Keeping leaves out of your water will help as well because bacteria love to grow and feed on the leaves. Taking away their food supply means less bacteria and longer-lasting flowers.
Cut flower care is easy, effective, and everything your floral arrangements need to thrive. Contact Blumengarten today to find your next handcrafted arrangement!