How to Help Fresh Flowers Last Longer
There’s nothing quite like a bouquet of flowers. From the gorgeous scents to the textures and foliage, having a display of cut flowers can brighten your space and be an instant mood booster. I've been fortunate enough to work with flowers for many years and have learnt a few tips and tricks along the way that I'd like to share with you.
How to prolong the life of your cut flower bouquet
Below are some simple tips on how to care for your cut flowers so you can enjoy your beautiful blooms for a bit longer:
• Before placing your flowers in a vase, cut off 1-2cm from the bottom of the stems diagonally. This will allow the flowers to better absorb the water.
• Remove any foliage that is in the water of the vase. This will help prevent any bacterial growth.
• Every 2-3 days, replace the water with clean water, remove any dead flower heads or stems, and trim off another 1-2cm from the base of the stems.
• Place your cut flowers somewhere where they won’t receive direct sunlight, heat or draughts. And, if possible, don’t place them next to your fruit bowl as fruit can release ethylene gas which will shorten your bouquet’s lifespan.
Top tip for roses
The two to three petals on the outside of a rose serve as a protective guard for the flower (which explains why the outside of a rose can sometimes look a little bruised). By removing these outer petals, your roses will be instantly brighter and able to open up completely.
Easy homemade flower food
Making homemade flower food is a great way of preserving the life of your cut flowers. You’ll need the following:
• 1 litre water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3-5 drops of household bleach
Stir the mixture thoroughly and then place the necessary amount in your vase.
What to do when your flowers begin to fade
Of course, there will come a point when your blooms begin to droop. But take heart - all is not yet lost! Did you know there’s a simple way to inject some life back into your cut flowers, even when they begin to look a bit on the tired side? It’s a process called scalding. And it’s not as dramatic as it sounds!
1. Simply remove your flowers from the vase and replace the water with clean water. Set the vase aside.
2. Pour some boiling water into a heatproof container.
3. Trim the base of the stems and then place about 2cm of the stem in the hot water for 30 seconds.
4. Immediately place the stem back into your vase of clean water.
This scalding process will allow your stems to absorb more water and help your flowers to perk right up.
Celine Watz
You can purchase Celine's gorgeous flowers by visiting www.floralbynature.com.au or follow her on Instagram here.
You can read more about Celine's organic flower farm in our blog post here.
Or go behind the scenes at the Floral By Nature farm in Celine's Back to our Roots video here.