You can find fresh cut flowers just about anywhere now, from your florist to your grocery store. A bouquet of flowers is one of the most popular gifts in the word. Flowers can be seen on different occasions such as birthdays, graduation, anniversary, celebrating, and yes, saying “sorry”. Just think of the occasion and we bet a beautiful bouquet of flowers will do the trick.
So, how to store and care for these flowers? Since they only have a limited period of freshness, here’s the best way to take care of fresh-cut flowers to unleash their full potential:
The best way to store fresh-cut flowers
After receiving or buying flowers, people tend to just put them directly into a vase full of water, which is one of the common mistakes in taking care of them.
Put it in the refrigerator – Just like keeping fruits and vegetables fresh, and preventing them from drying up easily, flowers can also be placed in a refrigerator. The cold temperature keeps it fresh and crisp.
Cut the stem – Cut about two inches off the stem at a 45-degree angle. You can use garden shears to trim it off or any sharp cutting material like scissors, just be careful.
Place it into a vase – Fill the vase with the right amount of water. Avoid placing the flower vase in direct sunlight.
How to Get Long-Lasting Bouquets
Putting a flower into a vase is not as easy as you may think it is. There are certain factors that need to be considered. Below are our tips to get your bouquet of flowers to last longer...
Limit Bacteria - One of the most important things to reminder is limit bacteria growth in your vase. So, be sure to have a squeaky clean vase prior to adding flowers. Also trim and foliage below the water line. Any foliage sitting in the water will encourage microbial growth.
Trim and Remove – Trim about 2 inches at a 45-degree angle from the stem with a clean, sharp knife or scissor. Do this right before you put them in water. Remember to remove excess leaves to lessen bacteria buildup in the water.
Pick the Right Vase – A good rule is to put the flowers in a vase that is half of its length. This will give the flowers the right amount of water and support they need to thrive.
Water and Food – Fill the vase with lukewarm water about two-thirds full, and add your packet of flower food. These popular packets contain sugars, PH regulators and anti-microbial agents.
Avoid Direct Sun Light - Much like storing them in a cooler, keep your flowers in a cool place away from the sun's rays will help them last longer.
Refresh The Water – Do not be surprised when your flowers consume a lot of water on their first day. Be sure to watch this and add water as needed. Continue to keep an eye on the water and change it out when it starts to get cloudy (probably every 2-3 days). When changing the water remember recut your flower's stems.
This is a great place to start when it comes to keeping your flowers looking fresh. Follow these tips and you'll be able to keep your flowers in the best condition and enjoy them for days.
Other Methods
We prefer to stick with our tips outlined above and this gives us the best results. However, a quick online search and you are sure to be overwhelmed with all of the different ways people suggest getting your flowers to last longer. Some of these methods might surprise you.
Adding a splash of soda will give your flowers sugars to live longer and might get them to smell sweeter too!
Adding a few drops of bleach will help fight bacteria, keeping your vase cleaner longer.
Adding a splash of apple cider vinegar help fight bacteria while allowing your flowers to feed of the natural sugars.
Add a few drops of vodka to inhibit ethylene production and slow the wilting of flowers.
Methods to Avoid -
Coins
Aspirin
Hairspray
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