How to Keep Flowers Fresh: 6 Simple Tricks That Actually Work

Most people are passionate about finding ways to make their surroundings more appealing. While there are many ways to accomplish this goal, none are as effective as investing in fresh-cut flowers. Choosing the right method of receiving fresh flowers is the first step in improving your surroundings.

Ordering these flowers from a florist every few weeks can become a bit tedious. If you want to simplify this process, then finding a flower subscription service is a good idea. With the help of a subscription service, you can get a steady flow of fresh flowers coming into your home on a monthly basis. Before choosing a flower subscription service, you need to do some research to ensure you are getting a good deal on high-quality flowers.

Once you start to receive the flowers from your monthly subscription, you will have to focus on keeping them fresh. While this might sound like an easy process, it is anything but. By following the tricks and tips below, you can keep flowers fresh for a long time to come.

Keep Your Fresh Flowers Out of Harsh Environments

Every year, American consumers spend millions of dollars on fresh-cut flowers. If you are paying for a monthly subscription that delivers fresh flowers, then you have to be careful where you put these natural creations. Some people make the rookie mistake of leaving their fresh-cut flowers in harsh environments. Not only will this reduce the appeal that fresh flowers have, but it can also lead to them dying quickly.

The typical flower is extremely sensitive to heat. This is why you need to avoid putting them in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. You also need to focus on keeping them away from appliances that produce heat. If you want your fresh flowers to last, you also need to keep them away from any fresh fruit in your home.

Fruit tends to emit trace amounts of ethylene gas. When exposed to this gas for prolonged periods of time, a flower’s wilting process will speed up substantially.

Trim The Flower Stems Before Putting Them In Water

There is no denying the benefits that come with placing fresh flowers in your home. However, if you don’t properly care for your flowers, they will not stay fresh for very long. After you receive a fresh bouquet of flowers, the first thing you need to do is trim the stems they have. With a pair of sharp scissors or shears, you can trim the stems on your flowers.

Ideally, you want to trim about two inches off of the stems before placing the flowers in water. You also need to make sure the cuts are made at a 45-degree angle. This type of cut allows for better water flow into the flower’s stem. When dealing with popular flowers like roses, you need to be mindful of air bubbles.

When these bubbles form, they can block water from flowing into the flower. This is why you need to perform stem cuts on these types of flowers underwater.

Provide Nourishment with a Flower Food Packet

Once you add your flowers to water, you need to figure out how to provide them with nourishment. One of the easiest ways to do this is by investing in flower food packets. These packets are usually sold by both supermarkets and florists. This pre-packaged mix is designed to provide fresh-cut flowers with the nutrients they need to stay healthy and vibrant.

Usually, this mix will consist of biocide, sugar and acidifiers. The sugar helps to provide the flower with the energy needed to keep its blooms vibrant. The biocide helps to eliminate harmful bacteria. The acidifiers help to control the pH in the water. With the right mix of these elements, you can keep your flowers healthy for a long time to come.

Choose The Right Vase For Your Flowers

If you want to keep your flowers fresh, then you need to choose the right vase to house them in. Most people fail to realize that the right vase can extend the life of their flowers. If the flowers you’ve received are fragile, then you need to choose a taller vase to house them in. Flowers with thick blooms should be trimmed back and then put into a low vase that allows plenty of room for the blooms to spread out.

Once you figure out what type of vase your flowers need, be sure to give it a good washing. Failing to wash the vase can lead to harmful bacteria getting into the water. This bacteria can shorten the lifespan of your fresh-cut flowers, which is why giving your vase a thorough washing is vital.

Be Aware of the Water Temperature

Another important thing you need to focus on when putting fresh-cut flowers in a vase is the temperature of the water. Most flowers will do best when they are put into room temperature water. However, if you have bulb flowers you want to keep fresh, use cold water. You need to fill the vase you are using about three-quarters of the way full with the right temperature water.

Tulip Flower. Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

Vodka Can Slow Down The Wilting Process

Instead of throwing flowers out as soon as they start to wilt, you need to find ways to slow this process down. Luckily, there are methods that can help you slow the wilting process. One of the most popular methods used for this purpose is putting a bit of vodka into the vase.

With a few drops of vodka, you can drastically decrease the amount of ethylene gas being produced. By lowering the amount of ethylene gas in your vase, you can slow down the wilting process.

It’s Time To Get To Work

As you can see, there are many things you can do to keep your fresh cut flowers fresh. By using the tips in this article, you can keep your home filled with vibrant and fresh flowers.