Fresh cut flowers are the ones commonly found at the nearest florist. They come in a variety of colors and options and you have the option to choose any variety of flowers in any color to make your own bouquet. As beautiful as fresh cut flowers are, it’s quite unfortunate that they don’t last long. However, there are ways we can ensure that the flowers we buy last longer. The obvious advice is to choose the freshest flower. The secret is in the petal. Flowers with firm, ‘upright’ petals are considered the freshest and be sure to buy flower buds or those just beginning to bloom.
The following are some tips on how to prolong the life of cut flowers:
o The vase or container you choose to place your flowers has to be clean and filled with cold or lukewarm water
o Cut the leaves off the stems below the water line of your container and cut an inch or two off the lower stem to allow the flowers to absorb water easily.
o Flowers last longer in a cool/cold environment, so do not leave flowers overnight in warm rooms and do not place them near heat or heat-generating appliances.
o Flowers in the water tend to generate slime caused by bacteria. To avoid this, use a few drops of household bleach and a tablespoon of sugar. Although there are commercially produced flower foods available on the market, they are not as effective as the combination of lye and sugar.
o Re-cut the lower stems every few days to allow for better water absorption and fill your vase or container with fresh water every day.
o Certain flowers need special care. For example, bulbous flowers like daffodils last longer if their stems are cut at an angle and the sticky white discharge is removed. Woody-stemmed flowers, such as roses, last longer if the lower stems are crushed and split to allow them to absorb water easily. To prevent tulips from falling over, wrap the bunch tightly in damp newspaper and submerge it in 2 to 3 inches of water for at least 1 1/2 hours. Then push little pins through the stems just below the flower heads and voila, the flowers will be upright!
