There’s nothing like a vase of fresh flowers to breathe life into a room. Whether you got a bouquet from your local florist, cut them from your own garden, or picked up a bundle from the grocery store, a fresh flower bouquet is a great way to add color and fragrance to your home. The problem is that fresh flowers don’t last forever, and wilting, dying blooms are not ideal home decor. But, there are a few ways you can extend the life of your fresh cut flowers – and they’re really easy, too!
How long do bouquets last?
How long a bouquet lasts depends on quite a few things. Different types of flowers, like hydrangeas and lilies, are known to last for a couple of weeks, while peonies and daisies only last a few days.
The freshness of the flowers also plays a role in how long they last. Flowers cut right out of your garden will last longer than the bouquet you pick up from the grocery store, which may have been sitting out for days.
Regardless of the type of flowers you want to display and add color to your home, there are some tricks to maximizing their freshness. Let’s take a look!
Cut flowers at an angle
It turns out the way you cut your flowers makes a difference in how long they last. Florists recommend cutting your flowers at a 45-degree angle. Cutting at this angle increases the surface area of the stem which allows it to absorb more water. If you really want to make your fresh cut flowers last, re-cut them after a few days. And make sure your scissors are clean!
Remove the leaves
Not only do submerged leaves take up a lot of space and look sloppy, they can also cause bacterial growth. Leaves that are underwater can rot, which causes bacterial growth that kills fresh cut flowers. So, make sure to prune any leaves that are below the waterline.
Choose the right vase
Vases are one of my absolute favorite home decorations, and I have dozens. But it’s important to look beyond the pretty colors and cool shapes and choose a vase that works best for the flowers you plan to use. Of course, your fresh cut flowers need enough space to breathe, but the height is more important than you may realize. If your cut flowers are light and fragile, you should use a taller vase that offers more support. If you have heavier flowers, you can use a lower vase.
Keep fresh flowers away from sunlight and vents
While flowers need sunlight to grow, it turns out that they don’t like the sun once they are cut. Sunlight can dehydrate flowers, so cut flowers do best in cool, dark spots in the home. The draft from the AC is something else that fresh cut flowers don’t like, so make sure they’re away from vents and fans.
Feed your bouquet
Making sure your fresh flowers have nutrients to keep them perked up is really important. Many florists agree that the bag of flower food that comes with a bouquet is all you need to make your bouquet last longer. This flower food contains sugar to provide energy for the flowers, an acidifier to help the water and nutrients absorb into the stem, and biocide to prevent the growth of bacteria.
If you’re using flowers from your garden, there are a couple of other methods you could try. One is to try placing a penny in the vase to prevent the growth of bacteria. Another way to prevent bacteria growth is by adding a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water.
What are your tricks to make a bouquet last longer?
Comment below with your top tricks and tips for making a bouquet last longer. I’d love to hear them!
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