How to make fresh flowers last longer

Whether you have just received, bought or plucked a fresh bouquet of flowers from your flower garden, you want your flowers to stay alive for long.

Fresh flowers are living things, so they need food and nutrients to survive for long.

General flower care tips

For your bouquet of flowers to stay alive for long, it’s important to practice these care tips regularly.

Trim the stems

Before you store your flowers, the first step you should take is to cut the stems of your flowers. Trim one or two inches of the stems at an angle (45 degrees) using garden shears. Cutting the stems at an angle allows better water intake whilst inside the vase. Re-trim your bouquet after every few days.

Prune

To prevent bacterial growth, remove any leaves below the waterline. To allow your flowers to bloom, remove two or three of the outermost petals. Check your flowers every day and remove any dead, loose leaves or petals to avoid bacteria rot. TIP: Get flowers that are not fully-bloomed so that you can enjoy their sprouting process.

Place your flowers in water

Once you have cut the stems of your flowers, they won’t last long without being hydrated. Get a vase, make sure it’s properly cleaned, then add room-temperature water. Add a packet of flower food to the water or you can make your own flower food at home. After every two or three days, thoroughly clean your vase, put fresh water and add new flower food.

Avoid direct sunlight, heat or fruits

Flowers tend to last longer when stored in cool areas. Therefore, do not display your flowers in direct sunlight or near heat-generating appliances. Placing your flowers near open windows, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans will dehydrate them quickly. If you place your flower bouquet on your dining table, it can be tempting to place a bowl of fruits next to it. Don’t do that as ripening fruits release small amounts of ethylene gas which can prevent your flowers from lasting for long.

Home remedies to help your flowers last longer

If you can’t access flower food, here are home alternitives that will help your flowers stay healthy for long.

Apple cider vinegar + Sugar

Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of sugar and add them into the water in the vase before placing your flowers. The vinegar acts as an anti-bacterial agent and sugar acts as flower food.

Fridge

As crazy as it may sound, placing your flowers in the fridge every night before you sleep (at least eight hours) will help them last longer. Flowers thrive in cooler temperatures and by day 10, you can bet that your flowers will still be fresh.

Soda

Pour a ¼ cup of soda in a vase full of fresh flowers. The sugar in the soda will help your flowers last longer. If you have a clear vase and you want the water to remain clear, use a clear soda like Sprite or 7-Up.

Vodka

Add a few drops of vodka (or any clear spirit) to the water in your vase. The spirit prevents the production of ethylene gas, which helps plants to mature, and slows the wilting of flowers.