Self Care

Many people are often frustrated by how short-lived a bouquet can be once they get it home. Fresh-cut flowers are still living entities that can be encouraged to last much longer under the right conditions. The following tips will help make your Joyful florals last longer.

Tip #1:

Replenish the water frequently. Change the water entirely every 2nd Day.

Flowers drink a lot of water!

It is not uncommon for a large flower arrangement to suck up all the water in a vase within the first day or two once you have it at home. Keep the vase with sufficient water to ensure the flowers do not dry out and wilt. Flowers are also highly susceptible to bacteria that build up as stems sit in the water. Changing the water in the vase every 2nd day will help keep your flowers fresh for longer (and avoid that horrid rotten smell that develops once they are in the water for longer). For large formal arrangements, carefully tip the vase over a sink to let the water drain without disturbing the design. Then gently refill the water.

Tip #2:

Trim at least 1 cm of the stem off your Joyful Florals before you put them in a vase and each time you change the water.

By cutting the stems just before placing them in the water again, you expose and encourage fresh tissue to absorb water much more efficiently.

Tip #3:

Keep your Joyful Florals away from heat and bright light.

Sometimes we think that by placing the vase of flowers on a sunny windowsill, that is where a plant would be happiest. However, fresh-cut flowers are the opposite of potted plants. They are at their peak of perfection. Sun and heat will encourage them to “mature” and thus shorten their lifespan. Instead, keep your cut flowers in a cool dark spot as this prolongs their vase life.

Tip #4:

After you throw out your last arrangement, be sure to wash the vase/container very thoroughly in hot soapy water or, better yet, in your dishwasher.

Bacteria build up in dirty vases and do not go away if your vase is not washed properly. As soon as you add water again, the vase will once again be full of bacteria and your new bouquet will be subjected to the same bacteria that killed the last bouquet. Give your flowers a fresh, clean environment free of bacteria and they will last much longer.

Tip #5:

Use “flower food” for most flowers.

I encourage my clients to change their vased floral water every second day. However, if you don't have time to change the water regularly, you can invest in good quality flower food which you can add into the water of your vase florals. Otherwise, you can make your flower food by adding about 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of bleach to your vase before adding about a quart of warm tap water. It is worth noting that there are a few flowers that do NOT like flower food in the vase. Some of these are zinnias, sunflowers, and glads.

Enjoy your Joyful Florals!
From Cebile