When someone decides to send flowers to you, you know that it’s going to be only a temporary, if enjoyable, reminder of their thoughts for you. The good news is that, if you follow just a handful of tips, you can dramatically increase how long those flowers last. The next time someone sends you flowers, try some of these tips:
- If you’re the one who is going to send flowers, try to find flowers whose petals are firm and upright, with the buds starting to open. Watch out for drooping leaves, yellowing leaves or leaves with spots.
- Keep them cool until you can get them settled. If someone decides to send flowers to you at work, you can extend their freshness by refrigerating them until it’s time to head home for the day. You want to get them into their vase as soon as possible, of course, but cooling them in the meantime will help.
- Get rid of any leaves that would fall below the waterline. If you have leaves in your water, it will increase the growth of microbes and bacteria that can slow or prevent your flowers from taking in the water.
- Take about one to two inches off the stem. You should re-cut your flower stems by about two inches in order to remove the dead material and give the flowers a better chance at pulling in some water and plant nutrients. If you’re dealing with woody stems or with branches, you’ll want to use pruning shears to cut them.
- Water and feed those flowers. Keep your flower vase filled up with water that uses the flower food provided by the florist. Make sure you follow the instructions for mixing the flower food, because your proportions are essential here.
- Keep your flowers in a cool place. You want to keep it between 65 and 72 degrees, ideally. Keep them out of the direct sunlight, and away from any sources of heating or cooling. Watch out for areas like beneath your ceiling fan, on top of a radiator or on top of a TV. If you can keep those flowers cool, you’ll greatly increase the time you have to enjoy them.