Top 4 Tips To Make Your Flowers Last Longer

There’s nothing quite like a bouquet of gorgeous roses or flowers to make you feel special. If you’re like most people, you’ll do anything to make those Valentine’s Day roses or that graduation bouquet last for a few more days. It doesn’t take long for your flowers to start drooping, and you may be looking for ways to preserve their lovely smell and vibrant appearance. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your floral friends last a little bit longer, and in this blog, we’ll discuss the top four tips to prolong the life of your flowers.

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Tip #1: Cut The Flower Stems Properly

Did you know that you can make your flowers last longer by cutting the stems? According to John W. Kelley at the Clemson University Department of Horticulture, properly cutting your stems can extend the life of your flowers by as much as 18 to 32 percent. To do this properly, fill a basin or your sink with lukewarm water and place the flower stem into the water. Cut each stem at a sharp angle, preferably at a 45-degree angle (this will help the flowers take in water more easily). If you’d prefer not to use a basin, you can leave the flowers under a steady stream of water as you cut the stems, which will help to prolong their freshness.

Did you know that when a flower’s stem is cut, the flower’s access to water from the root system ceases immediately? Air can quickly be drawn into the stem, which can create a pocket of air or an embolism that prevents easy water absorption.

Tip #2: Prune Those Leaves

While you may be tempted to leave the leaves on your roses, you may want to consider pruning any leaves that sit below the waterline of your vase. Why, you ask? When you leave leaves on the stem to sit in water, it will cause them to eventually die. As the dead leaves sit in the water, bacteria can easily be spread to your beautiful flowers, shortening their lifespan significantly. Some flowers, like roses, have guard petals which are the two or three outermost petals of the flower. By removing these petals, it will allow your flowers to open up more fully. Once your initial pruning is complete, you should check your flowers on a daily basis for loose or dead leaves and petals in order to avoid bacterial rot.

Tip #3: Keep Your Flowers Out Of Direct Sunlight

Many people like to put their new flowers next to a window so they can receive sunlight, however this tactic can actually cause your flowers more harm than good. Avoid displaying your flowers in areas like open windows, near heating and cooling vents, and in direct sunlight. These areas can cause your flowers to dehydrate and wilt at a faster pace.

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Tip #4: Use Household Ingredients To Prolong The Life Of Your Flowers

If you’ve done your research on how to prolong flowers at home, you may have come across some interesting household ingredients that can be used to extend the life of your flowers. Let’s look at some common ways to prolong the life of your flowers or roses below.

• Soda - Before you throw out that almost-empty two-liter bottle of soda, pour about ¼ cup of soda into your flower’s water. The sugar from the soda will help make your blossoms last longer. If you want to liquid in your vase to be clear like water, you may want to consider using clear soda like Sprite®.
• Hair Spray - Who knew hair spray could be used on something other than styling your hair? A simple spritz of hair spray can help your fresh cut flowers last longer. Just stand a foot away from the bouquet before you give them a quick spray. Try to aim for the undersides of the leaves and petals.
• Vodka - One secret to keeping fresh cut flowers looking good for as long as possible is to minimize the growth of bacteria in the water. Since flowers get all of their nourishment from water, when the water is murky or full of bacteria, it can lead to the quick demise of your floral arrangement. Try adding a few drops of vodka to your flower vase to encourage antibacterial action.
• Coins - Did you know that your posies and other cut flowers will last longer if you throw a copper penny and a cube of sugar into the base? Copper pennies act as an acidifier, which helps to prevent the growth of bacteria in the vase.
• Bleach - If you want your flowers to last longer, try adding ¼ tablespoon of bleach per one liter of water to your vase. This will keep your flower water from getting cloudy, not to mention it will help ward off bacteria growth.

As you can see, there are many unique ways to prolong the life of your beautiful flowers. At Venus Et Fleur, we understand how difficult it can be to maintain flower freshness and beauty, which is why we’ve created Eternity Roses that can last up to a year long. Shop our collections online today!