How to best care for fresh-cut flowers

July 2024

story courtesy of Family Features

The beauty of having a garden is that buds continually bloom on one plant or another throughout most of the year. While this provides lovely views from your windows, it can also be nice to bring some of that beauty inside.

Don’t be afraid to snip off a few blossoms each week. Many plants thrive after trimming and may reward you with even more flowers. Once you’ve gathered a bouquet from your garden, consider these tips to help keep fresh flowers at their best for a week or more:

• Bacteria can quickly destroy fresh flowers, which is why it’s important to always use a clean vase. Any floral foam or wires used in your arrangements must also always be washed in warm, soapy water.
• Remove any lower leaves on flower stems that may come in contact with water inside the vase.
• Carefully trim each flower stem at a 90-degree angle. It may also be helpful to carefully cut flowers while they are underwater to keep moisture flowing into the stems.
• Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight. The darker and cooler the room, the longer your blossoms will bloom.
• Adding crushed aspirin, bleach, vinegar, sugar or even a copper penny to the vase are age-old tricks. However, you can keep bacteria at bay and help flowers thrive by simply adding a packet of flower food to the water. It can be found at your local florist or home improvement store.
• Flowers are still living things that require water, food and care after they are cut. Every 2-3 days, be sure to change the water, replenish the flower food, and recut the stems for additional days of glorious color. 

Find more ideas for freshening up your indoor spaces at elivingtoday.com.