Five tips for longer-lasting blooms.
Many factors contribute to the vase life of your flowers. Some varieties naturally die faster, like poppies, which last about three days. Meanwhile healthy zinnias and basil can easily blow past the two-week mark. The best way to maximize your bouquet is to give your flowers the TLC they need and deserve by following these steps:
If you are arranging your own flowers, thoroughly sanitize your container before you begin because any lingering bacteria will cause decay. Your vessel should be clean enough to drink from. I wash mine with hot, soapy water and a little bleach, and then I wipe it out with a clean, white towel.
Cut flowers love cool temperatures and do not like direct sunlight or drafts, so display them away from windows, air conditioning vents and heaters.
Change the water in your arrangement every other day. This is so important! Think about yourself sitting sad and alone in old bath water. Ew. Your flowers don’t want to do that either.
If your arrangement allows, trim half an inch off your flower stems at least once a week. With a standard vase bouquet, you should be able to just grab the whole shebang in one hand and snip with the other. While you’re at it, re-sanitize your container with hot water and a splash of vinegar or bleach.
Don’t keep your flowers by the fruit bowl. Ripening fruits release a gas called ethylene that makes some flowers fussy.
Do you know what all of this info means to me on a personal level? It means that when I walk into my ritzy grocery store and the flowers are displayed unrefrigerated, in the fruit section, in front of the freaking automatic doors, my head explodes! I’m like, why don’t you just put the damn tri-tips there while you’re at it?! Good grief.
Anyway, your flowers won’t need flower food if you follow these steps, but if you prefer to use food, you can make your own at home by mixing 1 tsp. bleach, 1 tsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. vinegar in 2 pints of water. Add a heavy glug to your (clean) vase water and keep the remainder in the fridge.
One more note: Some flowers, like sunnies, are considered “dirty” flowers because they goop up the water super quick. You really have to stay on top of your water changes, otherwise your blooms will fade prematurely and you’ll be sad.
