A Guide to Beautiful, Beneficial Flowers

Part of the beauty of fresh cut flowers is that they are not stagnant. They change and stretch and open. They are here only briefly, letting us soak in their beauty, before they fade.

I really don't think that we would appreciate them as much if they stayed the same forever either. Or if they all looked the same. Some flowers last days, some will last more than a week, and others will dry out and look almost the same as when they were first cut! Such a visual treat regardless of tenure.

If you are thinking of gifting flowers to others or have been the lucky recipient of a gorgeous bundle yourself, here is how to properly care for the arrangement to get the most longevity:

Placement - Be aware of where you place your flowers. Flowers will last longer if they are kept away from direct sunlight or other heat sources, and in cool ventilated places. Be mindful that drafty areas can also cause arrangements to dry out more quickly. You may also be interested to learn that certain fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas which can shorten the lifespan of your fresh florals so, even though they look great together, fruits and florals should not be placed near each other.

Fresh Water - Changing the water that your fresh flowers are in will have a huge impact on longevity. Rather than simply topping the water up, give it a complete change every 2-3 days to prevent bacteria from growing and to allow for a fresh, clean, drink.

For elaborate arrangements that are large and bulky, wired in, or inserted into foam blocks, flush the containers out carefully with fresh water and allow for the excess to spill over.

Snipping Stems – For loose florals and bouquets, snip the stems at a 45-degree angle to supply more area for the stems to drink from. Remove any leaves that fall under the water line too as these will only promote bacteria growth.

Let them Breath - Do not over crowd your florals. Too many flowers stuffed into a too small vase does not allow for air circulation and can lead to bacteria growth that will drastically shorten lifespan.

Cleaning Up - Lastly, as some of your flowers begin to fade, remove those that have withered from your arrangement and/or try rearranging the ones that are still going into a smaller vase.

Keeping Your Flowers Beyond Their Vase Life

Drying - One of the oldest tricks to extend the life of your florals is to hang them upside down. You can do this either by stem or by bouquet.

Pressing - Pressing flowers is another classic way to preserve florals. There are different ways to press flowers, but really, you don't need anything more than some heavy books and a bit of patience!

Life is too short not to take time to smell the flowers and enjoy the simple beauty that they bestow. You deserve to live beautifully and what better way than to add the sweet offerings of florals in all shapes and sizes? Enjoy!

Kendra