It’s no secret we love having bunches of fresh flowers around the house. They encourage positivity, productivity and they help keep the air in our homes fresh! Bouquets are beautiful gifts for every occasion and even for a ‘just because’.
We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to help extend the life of your flowers, so you can enjoy them for as long as possible!
10 Things to Keep Your Flowers Fresh
● Clean your vase
Make sure you thoroughly wash your vases between bouquets as any bacteria on the surface will be harmful to your fresh flowers.
● Use room temp water
Just like fish, the shock of an extreme temperature change can have a negative effect on your flowers. Flowers can also absorb lukewarm water more easily than cold or hot.
● Fresh water regularly
Change the water every 2-3 days to prevent any bacteria and algae build up.
● Cut stalks on an angle
This increases the surface area for flowers to drink the water and prevents a flat bottom of the stalk to rest on the bottom of the vase – where it can’t drink very well! Make sure you use sharp tools to cut and avoid smashing the ends.
● Ensure only stalks are submerged
Remove any foliage from the parts of the stalks that will be below the waterline. They will only decay rapidly and encourage algae growth in your vase – which will in turn cause your flowers to deteriorate faster.
● Store out of direct sunlight
Place your flowers in a light open space that isn’t in direct sunlight as the harsh rays and heat will harm the delicate petals.
● Don’t place by the fruit bowl
While the kitchen bench is a great spot for your bouquet, try to keep it away from your fruit bowl. Ripening fruits, such as bananas, release a chemical called ethylene which is also harmful to your flowers.
While these are all flower practices you should carry out with every bunch of blooms you have in your home, there are also a few little things you can do to not only preserve, but also lengthen the life of your flowers.
● Add flower food
Typically delivered flowers have a small packet of flower food sent with them to lengthen their lives – so use it!
● Store in a cool place overnight
This will help make your flowers last longer and put them back out when you’re making your morning coffee.
● Add Sprite
Bear with me here, the sugars from the sprite act as a food for the flowers and the acidity helps to alkalise the water. The sweetness also helps strengthen their aroma. Just add half a cup to each time you change the water.
Flowers aren’t meant to be forever, so these tips and tricks are only going to lengthen your flower’s life for a few more days. Just enjoying them for what they are, and their lifespan can be so wonderful.
