5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery (2024)

5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery (1)

Flowers are a simple way to elevate your space, bring nature into the home, and yes, bring you that warm and fuzzy feeling that only something so beautiful can do. So why not make your flowers and, yes, your money, go further? Here, you will find 5 easy ways to make those cut flower blooms last longer so that you can enjoy them for as much time as is possible. Most of these tips you will only need to do once or once every two or three days and only take a minute!

1. Water as soon as possible

This is pretty well known, but cut flowers need to get in water as soon as possible after you purchase them. You can get them in water and then arrange, trim, or cut them as needed later in the day when you can take the time for them.

5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery (2)

2. Keep the stem clean

Every two to three days, you will want to make a fresh trim at the bottom of the stem (preferably at an angle) so that the flowers will have a fresh cut to suck up the water. Additionally, before putting the flowers in the water, you will want to remove any leaves or foliage on the plant that will be submerged in water. This will help prevent bacteria from breeding and keep the water cleaner for longer.

3. Keep the Flowers out of the Sun

Contrary to what you might think, cut flowers prefer a cool, dark spot out of the way of a draft, unlike their garden counterparts. The sun will dehydrate flowers faster. Place flowers away from windows where the sun will directly shine on them, and out of the way of AC and heating vents.

4. Change the Water every 2 – 3 days

Replace cloudy and dirty water with fresh water every 2 to 3 days as needed to lengthen the life of your flowers. This will prevent bacteria from breeding and clogging up the cuts that the flowers are using to provide themselves with water.

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5. Feed your Flowers

Many flowers come with flower food. Be sure to mix the food with the water that you place the flowers in. Didn’t get any flower food with your flowers? No problem. Mix 1 quart water + 2 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tbsp sugar + 1/2 tsp bleach for a homemade flower food and water solution. See the full recipe.

5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery (4)

Flowers are meant to be enjoyed, so why not enjoy them for longer? As always, thank you for reading and we hope that this inspires you to bring some nature into your home through flowers.

You can shop our online floral shop, call us at (504) 488-8887 or visit us at 9401 Airline Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70118. Our flower arrangements are handmade by our floral designers and can be customized. Hope to see you soon!

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5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery (2024)

FAQs

5 Easy Ways to Lengthen the Life of your Cut Flowers - The Plant Gallery? ›

Bleach. Freshly cut flowers will last longer if you add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per quart (1 liter) of vase water. Another popular recipe calls for 3 drops bleach and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 quart (1 liter) water. This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

What liquid keeps cut flowers alive longer? ›

Bleach. Freshly cut flowers will last longer if you add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per quart (1 liter) of vase water. Another popular recipe calls for 3 drops bleach and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 quart (1 liter) water. This will also keep the water from getting cloudy and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Does sugar water help flowers last longer? ›

Adding white granulated sugar to the vase water will give flowers nutrients they need to continue growing and developing. However, an antibacterial agent such as vinegar should also be added to prevent bacteria growth which can make the water appear cloudy and interrupt the stem's water uptake.

Does Epsom salt make cut flowers last longer? ›

So, according to my very scientific research: if you want flowers to last longer than a week, sans fur and stink, a tablespoon of Epsom salts to half a litre of water does the trick. Epsom salts protected the flowers so well, the stems didn't even get furry, or lose any colour.

Does vinegar make flowers last longer? ›

The vinegar keeps the pH of the flowers balanced, preserving and prolonging their lifespan. Step 1: Choose your beautiful flowers and cut them from the bottom of the stem at an angle. Cutting them at an angle helps the nutrients from your mixture reach the right places in the flower's stem and petals.

Does baking soda make flowers last longer? ›

your fresh flowers a little longer. The baking soda will help to balance out the. conditions in the water (neutralize acidity/ alkalinity). So the flowers will be closer to their original growing.

Why do you put a penny in cut flowers? ›

The reason pennies are considered a smart way to keep flowers alive longer is because copper is a fungicide, so it naturally kills off those pesky bacteria and fungi that are trying to camp out in your flowers' vase and shorten the life span of your stems.

What does bleach do to extend vase life? ›

When microorganisms multiply in plain vase water, they block the flower stem and make it hard for the stem to absorb water for nutrients — causing wilt and odors! Adding Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach kills these microorganisms to ensure that your flower bloom lasts.

What does 7up do to extend vase life? ›

7-Up or Sprite — Citrus soda, such as 7 Up and Sprite, can effectively make flower water both acidic and sugary. Experts recommend mixing up a solution of one part soda and three parts water, along with a few drops of microbe-killing bleach.

What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh the longest experiment? ›

The 7-up solution (1/3 cup 7up plus 1 cup water) kept the roses freshest for the longest time because of ingredients found in 7-up: sugar, citric acid and soda. I am assuming that the citric acid helped keep the water clean and was less harsh on the flower since citric acid comes from a plant.

Does vinegar make cut flowers last longer? ›

The vinegar keeps the pH of the flowers balanced, preserving and prolonging their lifespan. Step 1: Choose your beautiful flowers and cut them from the bottom of the stem at an angle. Cutting them at an angle helps the nutrients from your mixture reach the right places in the flower's stem and petals.

How do you keep fresh cut flowers from wilting? ›

Fresh-cut flowers do not like extreme temperatures.

You may be planning to keep your flowers wrapped until you can give them to your special someone, but it is best to unwrap the stems and place the bouquet in a vase of water. Keep the water lukewarm – you don't want to heat or freeze the blooms.

What do florists often use to keep cut flowers prettier for longer? ›

Utilizing Flower Food: If your flowers come with a packet of flower food, it's a valuable asset. This blend of nutrients, pH stabilizers, and antibacterial agents is formulated to extend the vibrancy and health of your flowers. By using it, you're giving your blooms the nourishment they need to flourish.

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