Flower Care No-nonsense ways to keep cut flowers longer
For hand-tied bouquets, we recommend that you recut the flower stems (don't worry about the salal greenery) on an angle, using a sharp knife. Immediately place in your prepared vase.
Keep the vase filled (or floral foam soaked) with water containing a flower food provided by your florist. Flower foods make flowers last longer but it is important to follow the mixing directions on the flower food packet. Most packets are to be mixed with either a pint or a quart of water. Flower foods should not be diluted with more water than is specified on the packet.
Use plain, lukewarm water for most cut flowers, but use cold water for bulb flowers, such as daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. Warm water molecules move faster than cold water molecules and so can be absorbed by flowers with greater ease. The objective is to get water and nutrients as quickly as possible to the head of the flower.
Strip all leaves from the part of the stem that will be under water. Leaves contain bacteria and fungi that will quickly breed and foul the water in your vase.
Change the water every 2 days -- don't just top it off. Flushing the vase is a simple and effective way to change the water in a short arrangement. Place the vase under the faucet, parting the flowers slightly to let water run into the vase. Continue to let the water run until clean water is all that remains. This is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your flowers looking fresh. Arrangements in floral foam should be rewatered every day.
If the flower food solution becomes cloudy, replace it entirely with properly mixed flower food solution. If possible, re-cut stems by removing one to two inches with a sharp knife. Be sure to use a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems. Immediately place the stems into solution.
Remove damaged or dying flowers and leaves to prevent fungal infection or rapid wilting due to ethylene.
Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, and direct drafts from the sides or above; and move them to a cool place at night. Don't place your flowers on anything that gives off heat such as TV's or heating radiators. Avoid leaving your flowers in the car.
Give daffodils their own vase -- daffodil stems give off a compound that is toxic to other flowers. Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which release ethylene gas that causes flowers to age faster.
Services
