With springtime right around the corner, fresh flowers bring new life and energy to any space. And if you’re like me, I love having fresh flowers at home as much as possible. So, in order to keep them looking beautiful (and keep my budget in check!), I’ve taken to these tips for extending the life of fresh cut flowers:
Tip #1: Try to purchase the freshest flowers you can, by looking for signs of freshness and avoiding aged blooms. Select flowers with healthy-looking leaves — they should appear fresh, firm, and green.
Tip #2: If you have a ways to travel before putting your flowers into a vase, be sure they are packaged with individual water containers, or at the very least, wrap the stems in damp paper towels.
Tip #3: Remove any wilted petals or leaves, and remove any greenery from the bottom of the stems that will be submerged in the water — doing so will help keep the water in your vase clean and clear.
Tip #4: Cut off 1-2″ of the stems at 45 degree angle, under cool running water. It’s also a good idea to trim stems each day or so to help the flowers take in adequate nutrients.
Tip #5: Always use a clean vase that has been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed well. This will help remove any bacteria that can harm your flowers.
Tip #6: Flowers may take in more water than you might think, so replenish the water frequently. Keep changing the water entirely every 2-3 days.
Tip #7: Keep your flowers fed and happy! The commercial flower food packets you find in the store will do, or you can make a handmade recipe at home using natural ingredients.
Tip #8: In addition to the food, try adding a tiny amount of bleach to the water, which will help keep the water clean and clear and prevent harmful bacteria. But be careful to not use too much!
Tip #9: Channel your inner florist and “mist” the flowers daily. While flowers draw water from their stems, almost all flowers benefit from a daily mist of water. Use a small spray bottle to gently mist.
Tip #10: Lastly, cut flowers will keep fresh longer if kept at cooler temperatures. Try to move them to a cooler spot at night, and keep them away from direct spotlight and warmer spots in your home.
Do you have any additional tips of your own? I’d love to hear!
ok i need to save this, bc I always feel like my flowers die so quickly!
love from San Francisco,
Britt+Whit
Happy to hear, ladies! 🙂
These are awesome tips, I always feel like my flowers die so quickly, so I will definitely be trying these.
-Alex
http://www.monstermisa.blogspot.com/
So glad to hear, Alex! 🙂