There are many tricks and tips for making store bought flowers like roses, lilies, tulips, daisies last longer. With the right care, you can extend the vase life of fresh cut flowers by days or even weeks past their usual lifespan. This allows you to enjoy their beauty for as long as possible. Some key techniques include proper hydration, using floral preservatives, displaying flowers correctly, maintaining ideal temperatures, and regularly trimming stems.
Quick Tips to Make Flowers Last Longer
Here are some quick answers to common questions about maximizing the longevity of store bought flowers:
– Cut stems at an angle with sharp, clean shears when you get them home. This prevents water-blocking.
– Use lukewarm water, not cold. Cold water can shock stems and limit water uptake.
– Change vase water every 2-3 days. Replace with fresh, lukewarm water and floral preservative.
– Keep flowers away from drafty areas and direct sunlight to avoid temperature stresses.
– Consider using a vase specifically designed to improve water flow to stems.
– Don’t let stems sit in too much water. 1-2 inches is optimal for most flowers.
– Consider re-cutting stems every few days to remove blocked parts. Use a sharp knife or shears.
– Remove any leaves or petals that fall into the water, as they can rot and breed bacteria.
– Add floral preservative or homemade mixes like sugar, vinegar, bleach to the vase water to inhibit bacteria growth.
– Keep flowers in a cool, dark place at night to mimic their natural growth conditions.
Start with Fresh, High Quality Blooms
One of the most important factors in floral longevity comes long before you get them home – it’s buying the freshest flowers possible to begin with. Indicators of freshness include:
Look for Tightly Furled Buds
Flowers that are still emerging and haven’t opened up yet tend to last longer. Fully open blooms are often nearer the end of their lifespan. Ask your florist for buds that still have some time left before reaching full bloom.
Seeking Out Firm, Straight Stems
Limp, bending stems often mean the flowers are older or have been stressed. Opt for straight, rigid stems that feel sturdy and snap cleanly rather than bending.
Pick Unblemished Petals and Foliage
Avoid flowers with brown spots, torn or wilting petals, or damaged leaves. Any flaws can allow decay to take hold. Opt for flowers with pristine, vibrant petals and greenery.
Shop Early Morning for Optimal Freshness
Flowers first thing in the morning are often newly cut, hydrated, and in better shape than later in the day after sitting out. Time your flower shopping early if possible.
Use Proper Hydration
One key to making flowers last is keeping them properly hydrated by providing fresh, clean water and limiting bacterial growth. Here are some tips:
Use Lukewarm Water
Fill your vase with room temperature water around 100 F. Cold water can shock and damage the stems, limiting their ability to take in water. Warm water allows the best water uptake.
Keep Stems Hydrated When Transporting
After purchase, wrap stems in a damp paper towel, place in a bucket of water, or mist with a spray bottle on the trip home. Don’t let them dry out.
Recut Stems at an Angle Underwater
As soon as you get flowers home, trim 1-2 inches off each stem at a 45 degree angle underwater using sharp shears. This prevents air bubbles that block water flow.
Remove Excess Foliage
Strip off any leaves or greenery that would sit below the waterline, as they promote bacterial rot. Leaves above the water are helpful for photosynthesis.
Use Clean Vases
Wash vases thoroughly before use with hot water and a little bleach to kill bacteria. Dirty vases harbor microbes that clog stems and shorten vase life.
Change the Water Every 2-3 Days
Dump old water, rinse the vase, and refill with fresh lukewarm water and flower food every few days to limit bacteria accumulation.
Use Floral Preservatives
Specialized floral preservatives contain sugars, biocides, and acids that promote water uptake and prevent stem blockages. They may contain:
Sugars as Food Sources
Providing glucose, sucrose, or fructose nourishes the flowers and promotes longevity. These sugars fuel respiration and support the flowers.
Biocides to Control Bacteria
Ingredients like isothiazolinones limit bacteria and fungi growth in the water which can clog stems and shorten vase life.
Acidifiers to Adjust pH
Citric or ascorbic acid lowers water pH, which aids water absorption by the stems. Alkaline water can prevent proper hydration.
Bleach as a Disinfectant
A small amount of bleach, around 1 teaspoon per quart, helps control bacteria with less staining than full strength. Just be sure to pour it into the vase before adding flowers.
Display Flowers Properly
How you arrange and display your flowers also influences their longevity. Here are some tips:
Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
Too much direct sun can overheat flowers, exacerbate water loss, and cause fading. Display blooms in a cooler spot away from heating vents as well.
Avoid Drafty Areas
Air circulation is good, but direct drafts from fans, open windows or exits can dry flowers out faster. Shelter them from drafts which accelerate water loss.
Use Room Temperature Water for Arranging
When arranging flowers, fill your work bucket with room temperature water rather than cold tap water to avoid shocking stems.
Recut Stems Before Arranging
Trim 1-2 inches off each stem once again just before arranging flowers in your vase. This prevents clogged stems. Slice at an angle underwater.
Avoid Crowding Stems
Give flowers room in the vase and avoid cramming too many together. This limits air circulation and promotes bacterial growth that shortens vase life.
Perform Regular Maintenance
Extend flower life even longer with regular care and maintenance:
Recut Stems Every Few Days
Trim about 1 inch off stems once every 3-4 days. Slice underwater at an angle to remove blocked sections. This reopens the stem ends for better water uptake.
Change Water & Add More Floral Preservative
Dump old water and refresh your vase every 2-3 days with new water and more preservative to provide nutrients and inhibit bacteria.
Groom Flowers Daily
Each day, gently remove any dropped petals, pollen, or leaves from the water to limit bacterial growth. Also check for wilting flowers to remove.
Mist Flowers with Water
Light misting of blooms helps hydrate them between changing vase water. Just avoid getting water on petals, which can promote rot.
Keep Flowers Cool at Night
Move flowers to a cool, dark place like a basement or closed cupboard overnight. This mimics the lower night temperatures they need to regulate respiration and flower opening.
Use Specialty Flower Foods
For even longer lasting flowers, consider using commercial preservatives or creating your own homemade mixes:
Commercial Flower Preservatives
Buy readymade flower food packets or liquids containing sugars, biocides, and acidifiers made specifically for cut flowers. Follow package directions.
Lemon-Lime Soda
The citric acid and sugar in lemon-lime soda creates an acidic pH floral preservative. Two 12-ounce cans per quart of water works well.
Vodka or Gin
A few tablespoons of vodka or gin per quart of water provides alcohol to limit bacterial growth. This traditional trick works well.
Bleach
Use 1 teaspoon of bleach per quart of water to prevent bacteria growth. Be sure to add it to the vase before the flowers to avoid damaging delicate petals.
Vinegar
Add 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar per quart of water for an acidifier that slows bacteria growth and lowers pH. Cider or wine vinegar work too.
Sugar
1-2 tablespoons sugar per quart of water serves as a carbohydrate source. Granulated white sugar is easily obtainable.
Aspirin
Crush and dissolve one 325 mg aspirin tablet per quart of water for its antimicrobial effects and to increase water uptake.
Conclusion
Following these tips can extend the vase life of your flowers by days or weeks past their usual longevity. Proper hydration, floral preservatives, ideal temperatures, displaying techniques, and regular maintenance make a big difference. Armed with the right knowledge, you can enjoy store bought bouquets for as long as possible.
Summary Table of Tips to Make Store Bought Flowers Last Longer
| Tip Category | Specific Tips |
|---|---|
| Start with Fresh Flowers | – Choose tight, unopened buds – Look for firm, straight stems – Pick unblemished blooms – Shop early morning |
| Use Proper Hydration | – Use lukewarm water – Keep stems hydrated after purchase – Recut stems underwater at an angle – Remove excess foliage – Use clean vases – Change water every 2-3 days |
| Use Floral Preservatives | – Provide sugars for nourishment – Use biocides to control bacteria – Add acidifiers to adjust pH – Use small amounts of bleach as a disinfectant |
| Display Flowers Properly | – Keep out of direct sunlight – Avoid drafty areas – Use room temperature water for arranging – Recut stems before arranging – Avoid overcrowding stems |
| Perform Regular Maintenance | – Recut stems every few days – Change water and add more preservative regularly – Groom flowers daily – Mist flowers with water – Keep flowers cool at night |
| Use Specialty Flower Foods | – Commercial preservatives – Lemon-lime soda – Vodka or gin – Small amounts of bleach – Vinegar – Sugar – Aspirin |