Everyone loves receiving flowers, but people are often hesitant to buy a beautiful bouquet for themselves. Generally, the misconception that flowers will last for only a few days tends to alienate most potential buyers.
Flowers add an amazing atmosphere to any room. Here are some tips used by florists to help ensure bouquets stay fresh longer.
When buying flowers
Quality is the most important factor to consider when buying flowers. Therefore, we recommend that you purchase your flowers from a reputable florist. Not only do they have the knowledge and experience to handle flowers correctly, but they will also be able to prepare the bouquet for you to make the conditioning process a little easier. This includes little things like removing thorns from roses or including a special sachet of flower food that has been scientifically proven to help extend the lifespan of flowers.
Although you may have to pay more for better quality, it will show up at the end of the day when the flowers last longer, proving it’s worth it. But buying quality flowers is not enough, conditioning is vital if you want to make sure your flowers last longer.
The floriculturists have created harvest programs that must be followed by both the florists and the client so as not to break the chain of life of the flowers. Failure to follow these basic flower care steps will ultimately shorten the lifespan of your flowers.
Conditioning
Conditioning the flowers correctly prolongs the life of your flowers in the vase. There are a few dos and don’ts to ensure you get the best value for what you paid for.
If you can’t put the flowers in a vase quickly and the flowers begin to show severe signs of water stress, simply soak the entire flower, including the stem and head, in warm water for about 15 minutes. After that, you can start to condition the flowers for the vase.
You can start the conditioning process by making sure the buckets and vase you put the flowers in are sanitized. Bacteria love dirty containers and they will shorten the life of your flowers.
While you are busy conditioning your flowers, place them in warm, clean, cool water that contains flower food. Using warm water instead of cold water is better for your flowers because it contains less air, which limits the chances of air blockages in the stems.
As you prepare the flowers for the vase, be sure to use a good sharp knife rather than a pair of scissors to cut the stems. A utility knife will give a nice clean diagonal cut that will prevent any damage to the water-conducting cells on the stem. Although this may seem difficult to do, this technique is easy to master and is much easier and more efficient than a pair of scissors.
It is best to cut about 2 cm from the stems at an angle under water. This will speed up the rapid absorption of water. Excess foliage that will be below the water level in the vase should be removed. Also clean the flower stems to get rid of any possible bacteria to help prevent rot and further bacteria growth once the flowers are in the vase.
Make sure to use a non-metal container or vase to place the flowers. Add warm water and add flower food before you start placing the flowers in the vase.
Once you’ve arranged your flowers beautifully, be sure to place the flowers out of direct sunlight or heat and away from droughts. Although flowers love light and uniform temperatures, they do not react well to droughts.
Fill the vase every day with fresh water. If the flowers start to drop, simply cut back the stems with a sharp knife. If you have bought roses and they start to fall on your head, just re-cut the stems and place them in deep water for about an hour.
After you have followed these simple steps, you will be able to appreciate your flowers for much longer, knowing that your flowers are worth every hundred and more!