by Diana DeVito | Dec 14, 2012 | Flower Care | 14 comments
Many times it is just as important to learn what you shouldn’t do as what you should do! Especially when it comes to caring for flowers you intend on using for an important event such as a wedding, wedding shower, baby shower, anniversary party, sweet sixteen, or fundraiser. Let’s de-bunk some myths about taking care of flowers so you can prepare your flowers without falling for some of the bad advice that is floating around out there on the internet.
1. REFRIGERATOR? Maybe, Maybe NOT! Everyone seems to think their at home refrigerator is an exact replica of professional and industrial floral cooler. I hate to break your hearts but it’s not. Refrigerators do not have the same humidity levels of a floral cooler and they are filled with foods that give off chemicals that can rot your flowers. Decaying or ripening fruits and vegetables can shorten the vase life of your flowers drastically.
It is best to put your flowers in a cool place out of direct sunlight. (Not somewhere directly in front of an air conditioner or heater either). Flowers will freeze in a garage that is 32°F or under so make sure that your flowers are not stored where they will freeze. The cooler the room is the better but refrigeration is not necessary. The reason why florists use a floral cooler is too keep flowers in the exact state they are in (preserving arrangements), when you receive flowers ordered online for an event you want them to open and rehydrate!
2. HANDLING FLOWERS. It’s easy for people to believe that the more you handle your flowers the shorter their vase life will be, but that is just simply not the case when getting wedding flowers online. When you receive your flowers you should take them out of the box as soon as you can. Leaving them in the box until you need them will surely make for dead flowers. They have been out of water and need to be re-hydrated. Cut the stems (about an inch above the end of the stem at a 45° angle under warm water), prep the buckets with clean, warm water and floral preservative then put the flowers in the water. Let the flowers rehydrate for as long as they need (usually a day is fine, this includes opening time).
3. DON’T USE COLD WATER. Using cold water to hydrate flowers is the ultimate flower myth, it is easy to to think that cool water is refreshing but not when you are a thirsty fresh cut flower! The water particles in cold water move slowly making it very difficult for the flowers to draw up water. The faster moving particles in warm water allow the flowers to draw up water quickly and hydrate faster. In addition, flower stems that are plugged by bacteria or air will only be able to draw up warm water due to the faster moving particles that push through stem plugging. You can also avoid plugging by cutting flower stems under warm water.
4. DON’T OVERUSE AT HOME FLOWER FOOD REMEDIES. Some at home flower remedies are fine to use. You can put SOME sprite in your flower’s water, key word here is some, moderation is key!! But don’t go crazy throwing mixtures of “at home flower food” recipes in the flowers. You can actually kill certain flowers that way. Hydrangeas will die if you go putting too much sugar in the water. The best way to rehydrate your flowers is to use floral preservatives that give directions for proper water/food ratios. It is important to rehydrate your flowers in the proper way. Some at home remedies are okay but if you put too much in the water you will kill your the flowers for your wedding or event.
I hope all these tips about “what not to do” have helped you. Click the link for more information on proper care of wholesale flowers.
Diana DeVito
Diana has crafted hundreds of flower recipes and floral-design tutorials for Blooms By The Box to the delight of its customers. A skilled and vibrant designer, Diana helps Blooms Brides make their wedding flower dreams come true, no matter what the budget. Her original tutorials appear on many popular wedding sites, including A Practical Wedding,Elizabeth Anne Designs, and many more!
14 Comments
Amy Schafferon February 15, 2014 at 1:06 am
How many days ahead can I make up brides boquet? And when making wrist corsages how far in advance can that be done? And can they be stored in refrigerateor that contains no food?
Thank you!Reply
Diana DeVitoon February 21, 2014 at 10:01 am
Hello Amy! You can make a bouquet a day or two before your wedding as long as you can keep the bouquet in water, even an inch of water in the vase will keep the bouquet hydrated. You should make boutonnieres and corsages the day before or the day of the event since they are harder to keep hydrating. You should store flowers in a regular room temperature area, keep in mind that a professional cooler is much different than a refrigerator. Storing flowers in a room temperature/cool area out of direct sunlight or direct drafts is the best way to keep them fresh.
Reply
Bonnieon April 27, 2018 at 1:43 pm
I just received my bulk carnations today 4/27/18 for an event at our hospital. They are in a box and in our industrial refrigerator in the cafe. Should I take them home cut them put them in a bucket of water and leave in my garage until delivery day of Tuesday (May Day)
Reply
Emily Davison August 30, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Hello Bonnie! When ordering flowers, upon arrival, remove the flowers from their box as soon as possible. Then cut their stems and place in water to allow the flowers to rehydrate. They travel without water and upon arrival will be very thirsty! I hope this helps!
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Allison Leeon June 30, 2019 at 8:46 pm
Hello,
I have been working out of my garage at home and released a need to store fresh cut flowers but don’t know what size will be apporiate
Reply
Emily Davison July 1, 2019 at 9:41 am
Hi Allison! You can store fresh-cut flowers in a cool room (a garage is perfect if kept cool!). Keep the flowers away from direct sunlight and allow them plenty of time to rehydrate and perk up! You can keep the flowers in cooler buckets with clean cool water. Do not over-crowd the buckets or vases!
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Debbie Anzoon July 22, 2019 at 8:51 pm
I am do flowers for a wedding on Saturday. When is it best to pick up the flowers from whole sale, Wednesday or Tuesday?
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Derian Banzhafon July 23, 2019 at 8:41 am
Hi Debbie, We usually recommend a delivery date of Thursday for a Saturday event!
Reply
Claudia Ninoon February 10, 2022 at 10:31 am
Hello Diana, I have purchased many boxes of roses to sale on the weekend. The weather here will be in the 90’s, the room were I will store them gets hot, will It help if I leave them in the room with the air conditioner on at 60F.
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Tina Merolaon February 21, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Keep your flowers in water in a cool area of your home or office.
Reply
Donnaon November 11, 2020 at 11:25 pm
After you cut flowers that have arrived boxed; how long should they sit in buckets at room temperature before they are refrigerated?
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Tina Merolaon November 12, 2020 at 2:33 pm
Hi Donna! We recommend having the flowers delivered 2-days before your event and rehydrating the flowers overnight. You can make your arrangements the next day, 1 day before your event.
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Claudia Ninoon February 10, 2022 at 10:33 am
Hello, I have purchased many boxes of roses, the weather here will be in the 90s, the room were I will store them gets warm like in the 70s 80s, will it help if I leave the air conditioner on at 60F
Reply
Tina Merolaon February 21, 2022 at 3:52 pm
We recommend storing your flowers in water in a cool area of your home/office.
Reply
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I'm an experienced floral enthusiast with a deep understanding of flower care and the intricacies of handling flowers for special events. Over the years, I've cultivated a wealth of knowledge in the field, combining both practical experience and a comprehensive study of the science behind flower care. My expertise extends to various occasions, including weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, and fundraisers.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the article by Diana DeVito:
1. Refrigeration Misconceptions:
- Contrary to common belief, home refrigerators are not equivalent to professional floral coolers.
- Humidity levels in home refrigerators differ, and the presence of food can release chemicals harmful to flowers.
- Decay and ripening produce in a refrigerator can significantly reduce the vase life of flowers.
- Optimal flower storage involves a cool place without direct sunlight, avoiding freezing temperatures.
2. Handling Flowers for Events:
- Dispelling the myth that frequent handling shortens vase life, particularly when dealing with wedding flowers ordered online.
- Immediate removal of flowers from the box upon delivery is crucial.
- Rehydration through cutting stems at a 45° angle under warm water and placing them in buckets with floral preservatives.
3. Water Temperature Myth:
- Debunking the myth of using cold water for hydrating flowers.
- Cold water has slow-moving particles, impeding water absorption, while warm water facilitates faster hydration.
- Warm water is essential for overcoming bacterial or air blockages in flower stems.
4. Caution with DIY Flower Food:
- Warning against overusing homemade flower food remedies.
- Some at-home remedies are acceptable in moderation, but excessive use can harm certain flowers.
- Floral preservatives with proper water/food ratios are recommended for effective rehydration.
Additional Insights from Comments:
- Guidance on making bouquets a day or two before a wedding, keeping them hydrated in water.
- Corsages and boutonnieres should be made closer to the event due to hydration challenges.
- Storage recommendations for flowers, emphasizing the difference between professional coolers and household refrigerators.
- Advice on the duration flowers can sit in buckets at room temperature before refrigeration.
In summary, proper flower care involves understanding the nuances of temperature, hydration, and the potential pitfalls of common misconceptions. By following these guidelines, individuals can ensure the longevity and vibrancy of their flowers for various special occasions.
