When you get a special delivery of cut flowers, the first thing you want to do is make sure those flowers stay fresh as long as possible. Here are a few tips to keeping your cut flowers fresh:
- Only put your cut flowers in a clean vase. If any bacteria resides in the vase, it could transfer into the water and then be absorbed by the flowers. Cut flowers cannot survive a bacterial attack.
- Use fresh, lukewarm water. Cold water shocks cut flowers and hot water may kill them.
- Prevent bacterial growth. Put a few drops of bleach or vodka in the flower water to prevent bacterial growth.
- Feed your blooms. If your cut flowers came with plant food, be sure to use it. If not, you can add a teaspoon of crushed aspirin or granulated sugar to feed your blooms.
- Trim the bottoms of your flower stems. Stem bottoms tend to form a sealed layer at their tips that restricts water flow. By cutting the stems regularly (when you first get your blooms and then every three days), you can make sure the blooms get plenty of water. It's best to cut at an angle when possible.
- Cut off leaves below the water level. You don't want any foliage sitting down in the water, as it will rot and contaminate the water with bacteria.
- Keep your flowers and vase away from heat and direct sunlight. This keeps the blooms from overheating.
Here's another tip: Place the bouquet in front of a mirror, to expand the visual effect of the blooms.
