How to Keep Flowers Fresh: 11 Tips for Preserving Cut Flowers

Florists and home gardeners use many strategies to keep flower arrangements looking fresh.

1. 1. Choose the right kind of container. Always provide flowers with a clean vase free from any residue or leftover detergent. Lighter, more fragile cut flowers belong in a taller vase. Cut heavy blooms short, and place them in a low vase where they'll have extra room to spread out.
2. 2. Cut two inches off the flower stems before placing them in water. Garden shears will give you the cleanest cut, but regular scissors will also do the trick. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area and allow for greater water flow. Some flowers, like roses, tend to get air bubbles stuck in their stems, blocking water flow; to prevent this issue, cut the flower stems underwater.
3. 3. Make sure the water is at the right temperature. Most flowers keep best in room-temperature water. Bulb flowers keep best in cool water or even cold water. Whether you’re using either cold or lukewarm water, fill your vase so it’s three-quarters full and keep topping it off as the flowers absorb more liquid.
4. 4. Provide acidic water. Cut flowers do best in slightly acidic water, ideally with a pH level between 3.5 and 5.0.
5. 5. Prune any leaves below the waterline. Any leaves submerged underwater can rot and cause bacterial growth, so it's important to regularly check your flowers and remove any underwater leaves.
6. 6. Maintain your flowers consistently. Replace dirty vase water with fresh water and clean your vase every single day. Dirty water can lead to bacterial growth that will quickly bring on wilting. Re-cut your flower stems every two to three days to help them absorb water.
7. 7. Keep cut flowers out of harsh environments. Refrain from placing your fresh flowers in direct sunlight, near hot appliances, or near gusts of air from fans, air conditioning, or open windows. Some flowers, like tulips, are particularly sensitive to heat. You should also keep cut flowers away from fresh fruit, as it emits traces of ethylene gas that can speed up a flower's wilting process.
8. 8. Nurture your flowers with a flower food packet. Florists and supermarkets sell pre-packaged mixtures of all the essential preservatives that help cut flowers last. These flower food packets contain a balanced blend of sugar to feed the flowers, acidifiers to control the pH of the water, and a biocide to eliminate harmful bacteria.
9. 9. Make your own flower food. Instead of buying flower food packets, you can concoct your own DIY formula. The most popular recipe is to fill your vase with three parts water, one part Sprite (for sugar), and a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria. Another common flower food recipe is to mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of sugar, and half a teaspoon of bleach into a quart vase of water.
10. 10. Slow down wilting with a few drops of vodka. Giving a little alcohol to your cut flowers can actually decelerate their aging process. The alcohol in vodka impedes flowers from producing ethylene gas, which causes flowers to wilt.
11. 11. Separate harmful flowers into their own container. Fresh-cut hyacinths, irises, and daffodils produce toxic chemicals that can kill other plants sharing the same water source. Keep these flowers in a separate container for a day before combining them with other flower types.

The lifespan of cut flowers depends upon the species and their freshness. Fresh cut flowers from your garden can go right into a vase, ensuring maximum freshness. Cut flowers from the grocery store or a flower delivery service may be fresh, or they may have sat in a warehouse for days.

If you are looking for flowers that last a long time in a vase, consider chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria, lilies, hydrangeas, and clematis. All of these flowers should last at least ten days in a vase with clean water. Chrysanthemums have been known to last upwards of four weeks, which leads some florists to consider them the best flower for indoor vases. Other flower species like lilacs, daisies, and peonies last a considerably shorter time—usually three to seven days, depending on the variety.

When the time comes to bring fresh flowers from your garden into the house, cutting them—rather than plucking them—may lead to a longer vase life. When you cut a flower at a 45-degree angle using clean garden shears, you offer a broad surface area for the stem to absorb water in a vase. Plucking the flower produces a less reliable surface area.

Cut flowers in the morning or evening when the flower holds maximum moisture. Flowers are drier midday, so expect shorter vase times if you cut them at that hour. Then immediately put your fresh flowers from the garden in warm water until you’re ready to place them in a floral arrangement.

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