Everyone loves having fresh flowers in their home, but it can be a real bummer when that bouquet you received from your significant other begins drooping after just three days. It’s even more difficult to keep your flowers looking perky and healthy when the weather is hot – especially without central air conditioning. However, there are a few ways to preserve those flowers for a few extra days:
Put Cut Flowers in the Refrigerator
Nobody is marveling at the beauty of your bouquets overnight, so stick them in the refrigerator! Like putting your fruits and veggies in the fridge keeps them fresher longer, the same goes for your flowers. Think about it – florists tend to store their flowers in large fridges, so why wouldn’t the same concept work for you? Clean out an area of your fridge and keep your bouquet fresh for up to four days longer than a non-treated bouquet!
Drop A Penny in the Flower Vase
Copper is a known antibacterial agent, and the bacteria that multiplies in the water is a contributor to the breakdown of cut flowers. Simply putting a penny in the vase protects the flowers from some of the bacteria, keeping them fresh for longer. Pairing this method with the refrigerator, your flowers will stay fresher for days.
Don’t Place Cut Flowers in Direct Sunlight
While your flowers need a little bit of sunlight, we tend to overestimate how much is necessary. They aren’t actively growing anymore, so sunlight isn’t as beneficial as it is when the flowers are still rooted in the ground. When you have cut flowers, their needs change – with temperature being a much bigger factor. For example, putting your flowers on a windowsill with direct sunlight tends to be hot. As you can deduce from the fact that your fridge keeps your flowers fresh, supplying them with extra heat won’t. Not only will this sun make the water deplete quicker, but it can even cause the vibrant colors on the petals fade as well. You should keep your bouquet away from heating vents too and away from the fruit that you keep on the counter – the gases released from the fruit can cause some flowers to wilt quicker.
Maintain Your Cut Flowers
Something as simple as trimming the stems every couple of days can go a long way. This takes off the dying ends of the flowers, so they can absorb more water. Be sure to cut them diagonally. In addition, you should also change the water daily or every other day, depending on the state of the flowers. Use lukewarm water for regular flowers, but cold water for bulb flowers. Sterilize the vase between fills as well. If you have a variety bouquet, like A Little Pink Me Up, there’s a good chance that some of the flowers will die earlier than others. If this is the case, remove the dead ones and pick out the leaves that have fallen into the water. Eliminating these from the bouquet will limit the amount of bacteria in the water.
Don’t Use the Entire Flower Food Packet
If your bouquet came with a packet of food, don’t use it all at once. Every time you change the water, sprinkle a little bit more in. This flower food typically consists of sugar, an acidifier, and bleach. If your bouquet didn’t come with flower food, never fear! You can make your own with a little sugar, citrus juice, and bleach.
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