Tips to keep your fresh cut flowers looking fresh
Freshly cut flowers are a way to liven up your home, but they should be looked after properly to ensure they live longer and keep looking fresh throughout. One sure-fire way to keep them blooming is to trim the stems and changing the water daily. Here are some tips to liven your décor with fresh flowers.
Pick flowers in the early hours of the morning or evening, when the weather is cooler. Snip the stems at an angle that would allow for better water absorption. Place them in a vase that contains water at a high level, mixed with fresh flower food. Flower food is essential in providing the proper nutrients and helps keep the bacteria away.
An interesting method is to use any leftover soda (eg. 7-Up or Sprite) you have. Pour a quarter cup of clear soda into the vase filled with water. The sugar in the soda keeps the flowers blooming for a longer time. Using a little vodka with sugar can help too.
Re-cutting the stems is an important process, and should be done periodically after you remove the wilted flowers from the arrangement. Cut the stem using a sharp knife or floral cutter, and avoid smashing the stems as that could damage the water vessels and prevent water absorption. Clear the vase of any damaged or spent foliage and flowers. Keeping the stems tied together just above the vase’s neckline will keep them neat.
When placing a floral arrangement in your room, take care not to expose it to direct sunlight or heat. Do not keep them near air conditioners or cooling vents or on top of the fridge or TV as these devices give off heat and that can dehydrate the flowers. The optimum temperature for flower growth and longevity is between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius).
Your hairspray not only helps in your hairstyle, but also your flowers to stay in shape. A spritz of your hairspray can make your cut flowers look fresh longer. Give a quick spray, about a foot away from the floral arrangement, on the undersides of the leaves and petals.
Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar to the vase water, before placing the flowers in them. When you change the water periodically, take care to put in more vinegar and sugar into the replaced water. This helps enhance the flowers’ longevity.
Aspirins are good for humans as well as flowers. Crush a tablet and put them in the vase of clear water before adding the flowers. This helps keep the bacteria at bay, and helps flowers like roses stay fresh for a longer time.
Another homemade remedy to keep flowers fresh is to add 1/4 teaspoon bleach per quart (1 litre) of vase water. Alternatively, you can add 3 drops bleach and 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 quart (1 litre) water. The bleach will help keep the water clear and prevent it from getting cloudy, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
The main reason for cut flowers to wither quickly is the growth of microbes. Keeping a copper coin at the bottom of the vase, along with a cube of sugar will help prevent microbial action.
