Long-Lived “Cut” Flowers
Most bouquets are relatively short-lived owing to a few different factors, not least of which being how they’re kept after the fact. If you want yours to last longer, first, be sure to re-cut the stems with as clean a cut as possible. Though the flowers have been cut, they’ll still suck up nutrients through the stems. Next, consider the following steps.
- Be Sure The Vase And Water Used Are As Clean As Possible
You want clean, pure water. You’ll likely want to put in a few additives as well to stimulate freshness and maintain the flowers longer, but you want to start from a place of pure cleanliness. Be sure the vase doesn’t have any scum or other bacteria, as these tend to contribute to floral degradation. It’s best to have chemical-free water if available. - Keep Flowers As Refreshingly Cool As You’re Able To
Stick flowers in a dry place where the sun shines directly on them throughout the day, and they will diminish in beauty more quickly. Sure, a little light is okay; but too much will expedite natural decay. Meanwhile, going “too cold” can also have negative effects.
Unless you flash-freeze the flowers using liquid nitrogen, in which case the display requires cold temperatures, you’re going to want to keep the flowers above freezing. The best range will likely be above fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and below eighty degrees on the same temperature scale. Sixty to seventy degrees is optimal.
- Assure Flowers Are Delivered The Same Day They’re Ordered
Another excellent tactic is same-day delivery. Certainly, many bouquets are cut a few days before their purchase. However, with same-day delivery, a given flower bouquet is immediately sent out to its recipient. If you get one that’s unique enough probably they’ll cut the flowers the same day they arrange and deliver them.
That’s one of the best ways to assure you’ll get longevity out of a cut bouquet. However, there’s another method: flower choice and water solution makeup. Carnations, hypericum, and chrysanthemums commonly last two weeks or more in a vase. If you have them delivered on the same day, and follow the next two steps carefully, they might last a month.
- Be Sure To Change The Water At Intervals As Needed
The water in the vase you use will become dirty over time. There are a few reasons for this. The natural decay of flowers will cause water gradually dirtying up. There will likely be some bacteria that end up breeding in that water as well—however, you can meter the amount of breeding bacteria with a few steps we’ll explore shortly.
All that to say this: if you’re savvy, you’ll change the water every couple of days. Changing it daily may be best, though if you “prepare” the water properly, this can be a bit of a chore. At a minimum, you want to change the water once a week. With cut flowers, though, they may not last that long. So changing the water daily makes more sense.
- A Quarter Cup Of Soda, Several Drops Of Vodka, And Pennies
Soda-pop like Sprite or Seven Up has sugars that can serve to nourish cut flowers. A quarter of a cup of Sprite or Seven Up added to the water around your flowers is very good. Additionally, just a few drops of vodka are all you need to kill a lot of bacteria. The copper in pennies can additionally help; it’s worthwhile to drop a few in the water.
You can also use a few drops of bleach to get the same effect, but be careful; it’s really easy to go overboard. Pennies are safer than vodka or bleach, but vodka and bleach have their place. If you’re changing the water daily, this little concoction can be a bit of a chore. If you’re doing it weekly, then you won’t have so much trouble.
Keeping Your Flowers Beautiful Longer
Prepare the water to be conducive to floral maintenance, and anathema to bacteria. Soda pop helps nourish, vodka and bleach help cleanse, so also do pennies. Change the water on your flowers daily or weekly depending on how they’re doing and how dirty the water is.
Order same-day delivery for longevity, keep flowers cool, and use vases and clean water. Altogether, these tips will help you keep cut flowers looking fresh for longer. You’re likely only going to get one or two weeks out of most bouquets, but if you’re diligent, you’ll likely be able to make them last longer.
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