Learn how to always keep your flowers fresh
It is exciting to receive a bouquet of fresh flowers in your hands , it is very possible that it is a gift or you simply made the decision to decorate an environment in your home or office with fresh flowers. Whatever the case, few things in the world beat the look and smell of fresh flowers .
In this article, we will share some plant care tips and tricks that can help you prolong the life of your flowers.
A vase will always be a good idea, we will tell you how to prepare it
Do you have beautiful flowers from a special occasion that you want to keep longer? To make the flowers last as long as possible, you will need to place it in a vase.
If you let them sit outside without a vase of fresh water, they will surely dry out in no time. Placing flowers in a vase will ensure that they stay hydrated, however, before placing your fresh flowers in a vase, there are some simple steps you should follow:
1. Start by cutting the stems of your flowers
When a florist cuts the flower by the stem to add it to a bouquet or floral arrangement, the stem begins to heal immediately, meaning the area where the stem has been cut begins to harden and seal to prevent infection and dryness.
For this reason, if you place a bouquet directly into a vase without cutting off part of the stem, the flowers will not be able to absorb water and nutrients as well as if they were freshly cut.
This means that you should take a pair of pruning shears and cut the stems just before placing the flowers in the vase so that they absorb water better. Ideally, cut the stems at an angle so that they do not lie flat at the bottom of the vase .
The flowers will require continued stem trimming from the first time, re-trim the stems every so often to maximize water absorption and extend the life of your flowers.
2. Always try to remove (prune) extra leaves
Pruning can help prevent harmful bacteria from forming, it is always a good idea to check your flowers every day for wilted or dead leaves and petals.
At this point take your garden or kitchen shears (strong, sturdy ones) and cut off the leaves that are above the water line of the vase, that is, usually between 5 to 7 cm high above the water.
If you recently received an anniversary bouquet of flowers that included roses, you can remove the protective petals to allow the flower to fully bloom.
Always prune them as necessary.
3. Choose the right vase
Not all vases are the same (don't make that mistake).
Each vase is designed for different types of flowers , flowers with thicker and heavier stems should be cut and placed in low vases so that they have room to bloom.
For lighter flowers and thinner stems, they should be placed in a higher vase.
In any case, make sure that your flowers have space in the vase they are in, and that they are not crowded, always avoid crowding the flowers excessively, they will not have the space to breathe.
4. Clean water with nutrients or vitamins
Once you've cut the stems of your flowers, trimmed any excess leaves, and chosen a clean, appropriately sized vase, you'll need to fill that vase with water.
Flowers need a lot of water to thrive; If they go too long without it, they will wither and die.
Fill your vase with room temperature water, and if you want to give your flowers a little extra boost, consider adding a little flower food.
Mix the flower food well with the water and make sure it is completely dissolved before adding the flowers.
Important: Every two to three days, clean the vase well, change the water and mix in more flower food if desired.
5. Avoid direct sunlight, heat, drafts and fruits
While you may think that your flowers need a lot of sunlight to stay healthy, this is not really true.
Once the flowers have been cut from their roots and placed in a vase, it is best to keep them away from open windows and out of direct sunlight.
Keep your flowers in a cool room , away from ovens, fans, and air conditioning vents, to prevent them from drying out quickly.
Another tip: keep your flowers away from fresh fruit. When fruits ripen, they release small amounts of ethylene gas that can have a negative impact on their flowers.
Other interesting ways to make flowers last longer
If you are looking for unique ways to keep your flowers fresher longer, we invite you to read the following tips to keep your flowers fresh and crisp:
- Refrigerate your flowers: Keeping your flowers in cool temperatures helps preserve them and prevent them from wilting. Place your bouquet in the refrigerator each night before bed and you'll get flowers that stay fresher longer.
- Add some soda: While soft drinks (soda or soda) may not be the healthiest option for humans, it has a different effect on flowers. When you pour about ¼ cup of soda into a full vase, the sugar will help maintain and preserve your flowers longer.
- Get out the vodka: When we think about vodka it doesn't seem like it helps the flowers stay healthy, but miraculously, it does. Add a couple of drops of vodka to a vase full of fresh flowers to inhibit ethylene production and minimize wilting of your bouquet.
The truth is that we cannot make fresh flowers last forever (even if it is our wish in a beautiful bouquet or flower arrangement) but there are steps to follow to extend their life and freshness. See for yourself how long you can make your bouquet last!