- Buy “FRESH”.
- Clean your container — always start with a vase or container that is clean and bacteria-free.
- When you get the flowers home, prepare a bucket or vase with warm water (around 100 degrees will increase initial uptake). You can add a commercially prepared flower food/preservative combo that contains sugar as a nutrient, citric acid which also aids in water uptake, and a bactericide.
- Open the sleeve and remove any damaged materials or blooms.
- Cut at least a half an inch to two inches (depending on the flower’s length) from the stem with a sharp flower sheer or knife (if you are skilled with one).
- When you are ready to arrange the flowers, re-cut the stems to the desired length. Remove any foliage from the stem that would be submerged under the water.
- Misting the flowers with water or a commercially available anti-transpirant will help to keep them fresh for a longer period.
- If you choose not to change the water at least every other day, make sure that the water level is kept high in the container, so no stem ends will be exposed to the air and thus, dry out.
When buying fresh flowers, the key is to buy “FRESH”. If you start out with older blooms, they will not last for you at home, no matter how well you care for them. “Our flowers are cut early in the morning, before they are stressed by the heat of the day, giving them a great start for their use in flower arrangements,” says Donna Mills of Floral and Hardy Farm.
Look for flowers that are crisp and bright and are free from bruises — a few insect nibbles can add character and a “natural feel” to your arrangement. Some varieties have a short vase-life, while others can last up to two weeks. To keep an arrangement attractive, remove blooms as they fade. Always start with a vase or container that is clean and bacteria-free, bleach is one of the best ways to ensure this. You can clean a container in the dish-washer if it is safe for it. There are many alternatives available on the market. If you wouldn’t drink from it, it’s not clean enough for the flowers.
When you get the flowers home, prepare a bucket or vase with warm water (a temperature of around 100 degrees will increase initial uptake). You can add a commercially prepared flower food/preservative combo that contains sugar as a nutrient, citric acid that aids in water uptake, and a bactericide. “We find that changing the vase water every day has the same effect of lengthening the flowers’ lifespan and makes the water additive unnecessary”, says flower designer Don Chestnut.
Open the sleeve and remove any damaged materials or blooms. Cut at least a half an inch to two inches (depending on the flower’s length) from the stem with a sharp flower sheer or knife (if you are skilled with one). The cut exposes new cells for absorption and should be on an angle so more of the stem’s surface is available for water uptake. Flowers that have been out of water for a few hours during transport should spend an hour or more in a food solution additive (usually available in a powder form) before they are used in a flower arrangement.
When you are ready to arrange the flowers, re-cut the stems to the desired length. Remove any foliage from the stem that would be submerged underneath the water.
Placing your flower arrangement in a cool location will extend its life. Try not to place flower arrangements in warm sunny locations and away from heat vents. Flowers inside the home during Winter months when heating is used will naturally have a shorter vase life.
Misting the flowers with water or a commercially available anti-transpirant will help to keep them fresher for a longer period.
If you choose not to change the water at least every other day, make sure that the water level is kept high in the container, so no stem ends will be exposed to the air and thus, dry out.
The addition of fresh flowers placed casually in a vase, floating in a bowl or elaborately arranged adds so much warmth and a light atmosphere to a room. Arrangements are a welcome addition to any event or special occasion, as a gift or on a dining table. Make flowers a part of your life, and ENJOY!
Donna Mills and Don Chestnut
