Home & Garden
How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh for Longer
Florists use a few simple tricks to make bouquets last a week or more. You can too.
A bunch of fresh flowers can brighten a room for days, or wilt by the weekend. The difference usually comes down to a few minutes of care when you bring them home.
When you get them home
- Start with a clean vase. Wash it with warm soapy water. Bacteria left from the last bouquet shorten the life of the next one.
- Trim the stems. Cut about an inch off each stem at an angle with sharp scissors or a knife. This opens up fresh surface to drink.
- Remove low leaves. Any leaf that would sit below the waterline will rot and cloud the water.
- Use the flower food packet. It contains sugar for energy and an ingredient that slows bacteria. It really does help.
Every couple of days
- Change the water completely rather than topping it up.
- Trim the stems again by a small amount.
- Remove any flowers that are fading so they do not affect the rest.
Where to put them
Keep the vase out of direct sun and away from heaters and drafts. Also keep it away from the fruit bowl: ripening fruit releases a gas that makes flowers age faster.
Long-lasting choices
If you want a bouquet that lasts, look for alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, carnations, orchids and lisianthus. All of them commonly last well over a week with good care.
This article is for general information only and is not professional advice. How we work.