We all know that a flower, once plucked, only has so long. If you’re looking to increase the vase life of your blooms, knowing how to keep cut flowers fresh, healthy, and flourishing is key. Ideally, your blooms brighten up your space—and your mood—for days after cutting, but even the perkiest, brightest blossoms at the store sometimes seem to droop the minute they land in a vase at home. Luckily, Los Angeles florist Jenn Sanchez and flower farmer Frankie Gniwodda of Frankie’s Flower Farm know the secrets to keeping cut flowers looking fresh long after you buy them. Read on for her tips and tricks.
Pretend you’re at the grocery store
“When shopping at the market, it’s important to inspect the product before purchase,” says Sanchez. Take a close look at each bloom, just as you would an apple in the produce section. “Flowers like garden roses should have firm, partially closed heads and mostly vertical, upright stems. Fully open roses are typically on their last leg and will not survive more than a day or two after purchase.”
Start with a spotless vase
One of the biggest things people overlook is the vase itself. “Even if it looks clean, leftover bacteria from a previous bouquet can shorten the life of your fresh flowers,” says Gniwodda. Starting with a clean vase gives your flowers the best chance to thrive from day one, she explains, and you can achieve a spotless vase by washing your vase with hot, soapy water before every new arrangement; rinse it well, then fill it with fresh water before adding your flowers.
Give the flowers a drink
Immediately after bringing flowers home from the market, they’ll need to rehydrate. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle (to help water uptake) with a sharp knife or scissors and place the blossoms in a vase filled with fresh, lukewarm water. Consider avoiding tap water, which can harbor chlorine and other chemicals that can negatively impact your flowers. If included in your bouquet purchase, this would be the time to add flower food or floral preservative. If not, homemade flower food works too; a pinch of sugar and an acidic source, like a drop of lemon juice or vinegar, can offer the flowers the boost of energy and carbohydrates they need after being cut.
Then give them another
“Unless they’re locally sourced, most flowers are shipped overnight and left out of water for significant periods of time,” says Sanchez. “By the time they are purchased by you, they are dehydrated, and after initial care, they can consume a lot of water. Be sure to check the water level the next morning and top off the vase as needed.”
Keep your flowers somewhere cool
Flower arrangements can stay fresh much longer when they’re kept away from heat and direct sunlight. “I always tell people to think of flowers like fresh produce, as they’ll naturally last longer in cooler conditions than they would sitting in a hot window,” says Gniwodda. Like ripening fruits, flowers can spoil if left near heat sources, so she suggests placing your bouquet away from sunny windows, heating vents, fireplaces, or anywhere that gets hot during the day. “If you have a particularly warm home, moving your flowers to a cooler room overnight can help extend their vase life even more.”
Its gel can treat sunburns, calm irritated skin, and moisturize—so help it help you
Check on the bouquet frequently
“Oftentimes, you can stretch the longevity of your flowers by replacing the water every few days and even giving the flowers a fresh cut,” says Sanchez. Your bouquet’s water line should be high enough to keep the cut ends of the flowers’ stems underwater at all times.
Remove flowers as they begin to fade
As individual blooms reach the end of their vase life, they can affect the appearance of the entire bouquet. “Removing spent flowers keeps your arrangement looking fresh and allows the remaining blooms to continue shining,” says Gniwodda. Every couple of days, take a quick look through your bouquet and remove any flowers that are wilting or past their best. It’s a simple habit that can make cut flowers last longer.
