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Got Yourself Some Fresh Cut Flowers? Here Are 7 Tips To Care For Them Properly

Got Yourself Some Fresh Cut Flowers? Here Are 7 Tips To Care For Them Properly

One of the main cause of wilting flowers is bacteria, so do these things to keep your flowers fresh and pretty.

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Say that somebody just gave you a beautiful bouquet of fresh-cut flowers. Awhhh that’s so sweet. But wait a minute, you don’t know the first thing about flowers. Wait, I’m supposed to keep them alive? How?!??!

Well, for those fresh flower virgins, we got your back. Fresh flowers (differs by type), can last about a week or more if you give them proper care. All flowers will eventually wilt but the better you take care of them, the longer the blooms will last.

Although some flowers have different ways to care for, they generally follow the same basic steps as these.

Here are some tips on how to handle your fresh blooms.

1. Fill A Clean Vase With Water

You might not know this but caring for fresh flowers involves a lot of sanitization. The vase needs to be clean and free from any dirt so that there are no bacteria (they’ll make your flowers rot faster).

(Credit: TRP)

Fill in some water at room temperature (distilled is more preferred because tap water may have some minerals that’ll affect the flowers) until 3/4 of the vase. The water needs to be clean as well to prevent the growth of bacteria.

2. Put In Some Flower Food

Flowers usually need three key ingredients to live which are carbohydrates (sugar), biocides (cleansing agent) and acidifiers. They are important for cell metabolism, killing bacteria, and adjusting the pH level of the water to increase water intake.

You can find all these in flower food (in powder form) packets that you can put in a vase and stir. You can get them from a florist shop or online.

(Credit: TRP)

If you don’t have those, then you can probably make your own flower food solution. There are plenty of ways to make flower food with daily household items. Some of them include mixing your water with

  • sugar
  • soda (Sprite to be specific)
  • bleach
  • coin
  • aspirin
  • vodka

3. Cut The Stems Diagonally

Before you place your flowers in the vase, you need to cut them (around 1 or 2 inches) diagonally or at a 45-degree angle compared to just cutting them flat with shears or kitchen scissors.

(Credit: @OpheliasFloral / Facebook)

This is to ensure a wider surface area for optimum water absorption. You also need to recut your stems every few days or every time you’re changing the water to avoid bacteria growth that’ll lead to rotting.

Also, the main causes of wilting for fresh cut flowers are the air in the stem and the bacteria blocking the stem to take up water. So to avoid the air bubble in the stem, after you receive the flowers, cut the stem directly under running water or with a wet knife and then put them straight into the vase.

4. Prune The Leaves Below The Water

You need to cut the extra leaves below the water level as they won’t only make the flowers look nicer but they will also prevent bacteria from the decaying leaves from attacking your flowers.

Leaves rot faster underwater than they do above. So you should remove anything that’ll infect your blooms with bacteria.

5. Avoid Direct Sunlight, Heat, Fruits

You should place your flowers away from direct sunlight such as windows and from places near heat sources like the stove, or near your laptop or TV. You should also avoid direct contact under air conditioners and ceiling fans as these places can make your flowers quickly dehydrate.

(Credit: Freepik)

Additionally, placing them near fruits will reduce the longevity of your blooms as fruits release ethylene gas which is not good for your flowers.

6. Change The Water Regularly

The water needs to be changed and replaced with a new one at least once every two or three days and some even recommend once a day. You should also add in the flower food or disinfectant every time.

This is to ensure your water will constantly be disinfected and filled with fresh nutrition for your flowers to stay blooming.

7. Remove Wilting Flowers Or Leaves

This is particularly true for flower arrangements with different flower types as some flowers wilt faster than others.

(Credit: Jessie Jess / Unsplash)

Removing the wilting parts will prevent them from affecting the rest of the blooms and at the same time prevent bacteria growth.

Another tip if your flowers are beginning to look droopy is to immerse them fully into a water bath for around 20-60 minutes and they’ll most probably perk back up. (This depends, really. It doesn’t work if your bouquet is too wilted)

So these are some of the tips for you to care for your fresh cut flowers.

Generally, all fresh flowers will follow the same rule after they’re cut but there are a few exceptions and some additional steps for some flowers.

(Credit: Freepik)

For example, you have to remove the pollen from Lilies to make them last longer and you have to dip the Hydrangea stems in boiling water before putting them in normal water to remove the sap.

Don’t know what type of flowers you’re getting and how to specifically take care of them? Find out the common types of flowers here.

READ MORE: Want To Give Her Flowers? Here Are Some Types Of Flowers To Get You Started


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