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When you bring your bouquet of cut flowers home for your favourite vase, you'll need to follow specific care instructions to keep your blooms vibrant for as long as possible!
Cut flowers are a beautiful addition to any home or workspace BUT they're also perishable, which means they require careful attention to maintain their beauty and freshness. We truly wished flowers could stay fresh forever!
Proper care not only ensures that the flowers remain vibrant and healthy, it can also extend their vase life by several days or even weeks.
In this blog post we share practical tips for taking care of your cut flowers, from choosing the right vase to providing the proper environmental conditions. Whether you are a seasoned flower enthusiast or a beginner, these tips will help you prolong the vase life of your cut flowers and enjoy their beauty for as long as possible.
Flower Harvesting & Initial Care
Flowers intake nutrients and water through their stems via a process called transpiration. Sounds delish!
Transpiration is the movement of water and nutrients from the roots of the plant to the leaves and flowers, which is facilitated by a system of small tubes called xylem. The xylem allows water and nutrients to move up the stem, while another system of tubes called phloem transports sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves to the rest of the plant. As water is lost through transpiration, flowers draw in more water and nutrients from the vase or container to maintain their hydration and vitality.
Cut flowers require specific care because when they are harvested they are separated from their source of water and nutrients. Once cut, stems begin to lose water and their cellular metabolism slows. Ultimately this leads to their decay.
The cut ends of the stems can become clogged with air bubbles or bacteria, which further accelerates the wilting process. Ensuring that the stem is properly cut at an angle and that the vase is filled with clean water can help optimize the flowers' uptake of nutrients and prolong their vase life.
Preparing Your Vase
Before placing your flowers in your favourite vase, ensure it's clean and free from bacteria that can clog the stems:
Wash your vase with warm soapy water, rinse it thoroughly, and let it dry completely.
Mix a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water and fill the vase with this solution. Allow the solution to sit in the vase for about 15 minutes to kill any bacteria or fungi that may be present.
Empty the bleach solution and rinse the vase thoroughly with clean water.
Fill the vase with clean water up to about two-thirds of its height.
Preparing Your Flowers
You can help your bouquet last a little bit longer by properly preparing your blooms. First, use a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut the stems at an angle, which helps to maximize the surface area for water absorption. Second, leaves that are submerged in water can rot and create bacteria that can shorten the vase life of cut flowers. Remove any leaves that will be below the water line in the vase.
Continual Flower Care
Once your flowers are safely nestled into their new vessel you'll need to find the perfect location for showcasing your blooms!
Cut flowers will last longer if they are kept in a cool location away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts. Misting the flowers with water can help to keep them hydrated and prolong their vase life.
Every few days, re-cut the stems at an angle to help the flowers absorb water more efficiently. Fresh water helps to prevent the growth of bacteria that can clog the stem and shorten the vase life of cut flowers. Change the water every two to three days.
By following the simple tips we have outlined in this blog post, you can prolong the vase life of your cut flowers and enjoy their beauty for days, if not weeks. Remember to choose a clean vase, cut the stems at an angle, remove any leaves that will be below the waterline, and change the water every few days. Also, don't forget to keep your flowers in a cool, draft-free location away from direct sunlight and heat sources. With a little bit of care and attention, you can make your cut flowers last longer and enhance the ambiance of your home or workspace with their vibrant colours and delicate scents.
With love always,
Lynn & Janelle