How to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer

Fresh flowers are one of life's simple pleasures. Whether you’ve bought an arrangement to decorate your home, or received a beautiful bouquet of blooms as a gift, you will want your flowers to last as long as possible. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Our expert florists know all the best tips and tricks for preserving your flowers and extending their lifespan, keeping your blooms bright and stems fresh, so that you can enjoy them for longer. Let’s get started.

Recut stems at an angle and change water every 2 days

One of the most important steps in extending the lifespan of your flowers is taking a pair of gardening scissors and carefully trimming at a 45 degree angle, about 3cm off the bottom of the stems. Just like the flowers and plants in nature, cut flowers need clean water to thrive and live their best life. No one wants to drink two day old water! Rinsing your vase and refilling the water every two days will keep your blooms happy and healthy.

Prune Low-Lying Leaves to Prevent Bacteria Growth

Before placing your fresh flowers into your chosen vase, take the time to carefully remove any leaves that will sit below the water line. This helps prevent bacteria getting into the water and dirtying it.

Keep Out of Direct Sunlight

Did you know that where your flowers are displayed can impact their longevity? This is because flowers and plants can be very sensitive to temperature. Placing your flowers in a shaded and cool area of your home is the best way to keep them bright and healthy. Unlike uncut flowers and potted plants who thrive under the sun's rays, this direct heat and light will cause your flowers to dry out and wilt quickly.

Do Not Refrigerate

A common misconception in extending the life of flowers is to put them in the fridge. In reality, a fridge is usually too cold and this temperature change will cause flowers to become ‘shocked’, this is a damaging process. Generally, below four degrees celsius is too cold for flowers and will cause this effect.

Heavy Drinking Flowers May Need Water Replenished More Frequently

Hydration is important to all living things, and flowers and plants are no exception. It’s important to be aware that some species of flowers drink more water than others. Sunflowers and native Australian flowers are two examples of bloom's which can quickly drain a vase. Ask your local florist about your selected flowers, or do some research online. You may need to replace the water in your vase each day instead of the average recommended two days.

Remove Dead/Dying Flowers

Even by following all of the tips in this guide, sadly, nothing good lasts forever. You will eventually see flowers in your arrangement begin to dry out and wilt, indicating that they’re dying. Removing these flowers as they appear helps your arrangement maintain its beautiful fresh appearance, and prevents mould from overrunning and speeding up the decaying process of the rest of your remaining healthy blooms.

If you have any questions about cut flower maintenance, feel free to get in touch.

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