Tips and Tricks to Prolong the Life of Cut Flowers

Four Basic Factors

Understanding the four fundamental factors that influence the vase life of your cut flowers is essential for maintaining their freshness and longevity.

1. Temperature

Temperature plays an important role in determining how long your blooms will last. With their delicate petals prone to losing water rapidly, flowers wilt more quickly in warmer conditions. Conversely, cooler temperatures slow down the aging process by reducing respiration rates, thereby extending the lifespan of your blooms.

To optimize the longevity of your cut flowers, it's advisable to display them in the coolest part of your home, where they can thrive in a more stable and conducive environment. Alternatively, if they are placed near heat sources such as computers, heating/cooling vents, windows or kitchens, their vase life will be severely diminished.

2. Humidity

Maintaining optimal humidity levels is crucial for preserving the freshness and beauty of your flowers. High relative humidity helps prevent blooms from drying out prematurely by ensuring they retain moisture. In areas with low humidity or dry air, flowers are more susceptible to dehydration, which leads to wilting and browning. While misting can be an effective way to increase humidity, it's essential to exercise caution, as not all flowers can absorb water through their petals and leaves. Moreover, excessive misting may promote the development of fungal diseases, compromising the health of your blooms. Here at Fiesta Flowers, Plants & Gifts, every bouquet is misted with a moisturizer maintainer such as Crowning Glory or Finishing Touch before leaving our shop to ensure your gift lasts as long as possible!

3. Water

Water is essential for the vitality of cut flowers, serving as their lifeblood to sustain their beauty and freshness. As flowers draw water up through their stems via xylem vessels, it replenishes what they lose through evaporation, influenced by factors like temperature and humidity. Ensuring unimpeded water flow is crucial, as clogged xylem vessels can hinder hydration, leading to premature wilting. Regularly changing of the water (using bottled water is best), re-cutting the stems and using a flower preservative can prevent blockages and maintain optimal hydration. Combating microscopic threats like bacteria and fungi is achieved by incorporating a germicide, such as chlorine, into the water.

● Cleaning the Vase

Keeping vases clean is equally important; a lukewarm water soak with a drop of chlorine, followed by gentle brushing, ensures cleanliness.

● Water Temperature

Water temperature plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and longevity of cut flowers. Placing flowers in room temperature water or cold water helps to keep the blooms cool, slowing down the opening of buds and the wilting of open flowers. This moderate-temperature environment preserves the freshness of the blooms and extends their vase life. However, in situations where you want to encourage tightly closed flowers to open, using warm water can be beneficial.

4. Flower Food

Flower food serves as a vital replacement for the nutrients and hydration that flowers lose once they are cut from their plant. By adding flower preservative to your vase water, you can replenish essential nutrients and prolong the freshness of your blooms. Commercial flower preservatives typically contain sugar at an optimal concentration of between 1 and 2% and other nutrients, providing an ideal source of nourishment for most cut flowers. In addition to sugar, flower preservatives often include germicides to inhibit bacterial growth and extend the vase life of your arrangement.

Quick Cut Flower Care Tips

Here are some refined tips for the care of cut flowers:

● Upon acquiring cut flowers, promptly transport them home, re-cut the stems and immerse them in water without delay.

● Select a pristine vase and sterilize it by filling it with warm water infused with a few drops of bleach and allowing it to soak for 2-3 hours.

● After sterilization, rinse the vase thoroughly and fill it with fresh, clean water mixed with a floral preservative.

● Submerge the stems underwater and meticulously strip away any leaves that will be submerged in the vase water.

● Trim the stems at a sharp angle to facilitate water absorption. Either cut the stems underwater or put into the vase within 5 seconds after cutting to prevent air from entering the stems.

● Exercise caution when arranging the flowers in the vase, ensuring that each stem has ample space and support to thrive.

● Select an optimal location to display the flowers, avoiding direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts, to prolong their lifespan.

● Regularly change the vase water every other day, refreshing it with clean water and a preservative to maintain freshness.

● As the bouquet matures, promptly remove any wilted or damaged flowers and leaves to preserve the vitality and aesthetic appeal of the arrangement.

How Long Do Cut Flowers Last?

Well maintained cut flowers last around 7 to 10 days at home. But this can change based on different factors, like the kind of flowers, the environment, and how well they're looked after. Some flowers naturally last longer in a vase. But with good care, any flower can stay fresh for longer than usual.

Where to Buy Cut Flowers in Tempe, AZ

Visit us at FiestaFlowersAZ.com or stop by our store at 744 W Elliot Rd. #103, Tempe, AZ. Explore our wide selection of beautiful and fresh-cut flowers, perfect for any occasion. And while you're here, don't forget to check out the helpful tips mentioned in this blog to keep your flowers looking vibrant and fresh for longer. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you find the perfect blooms—whether it's for gifting or simply brightening your day!