Fresh-cut flowers can uniquely brighten up any space, whether it’s a romantic dinner table, a celebratory event, or simply an ordinary day at home. Their vibrant colors and natural beauty add a touch of elegance and warmth, making them a perfect choice for any occasion. However, the fleeting nature of fresh flowers can often be disheartening. With just a few days of brilliance, they quickly wilt, losing their charm and appeal. Fortunately, with the proper care and attention, you can extend the life of your blooms and keep your flowers last longer, ensuring they remain as beautiful as the day you brought them home.
Understanding the Basics of Flower Care
In order to properly consider something fresh and having a long life span, one needs to know what affects it. The key to keeping flowers vibrant lies in addressing three primary concerns: water, light, and fluctuation in temperature. Flowers are vascular plants that have been cut, yet they continue to carry out metabolism processes. To achieve this, you need to regulate the external conditions around these structures so that these processes do not go through their transformation cycle too fast and remain fresh.
Water is one of the most essential aspects of flower health. I want to underline the necessity of supplying your flowers with clean, fresh water without interruption. Water left standing in a vase for a long time is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This will block the stems and hinder the flowers from getting the required nutrients.
To prevent this from happening, change the water in the vase every two to three days and clean the vase properly before refilling it with fresh water. Cutting the stems by about an inch every three days will help facilitate the opening up of water uptake channels, hence providing the flowers with much-needed water.
Light is another important factor that directly affects the vase life of fresh-cut flowers. In the same regard as flowers, light is essential; however, exposure to a high amount of light can lead to withering, which is the early death of the flowers. The ideal place is a room where they will receive filtered or indirect sunlight, which is considered the best practice. This will ensure they can continue to be bright and colorful without posing a danger of overheating. It is also recommended to place flowers out of the reach of heat, be it heaters, stoves, or specific electrical gadgets, as heat speeds up the wilting process.
Lighting, on the other hand, entails controlling the temperature since it has a similar significance in preserving the freshness of fresh-cut flowers. About the climate, most flowers are cool-loving and grow well at temperatures between 60-70°F or 15-21°C. If exposed to high or low temperatures, the flowers will wilt faster due to the stress of significant temperature changes. If you get a chance, it is recommended to take the flowers to a more relaxed place, especially at night when the temperature is low, for example, in a basement or an air-conditioned room, to prolong their freshness.
Choosing the Right Flowers for Longevity
However, besides proper care, another factor that can help determine the duration of flowers is the kind of flowers you are willing to use. There are certain flowers that, by their nature, are more robust than others and, therefore, perfect for the arrangement, which can last for a few days.
For instance, roses are appropriate plants for any event as they are some of the most enduring flowers, provided they are well-maintained. To keep roses looking elegant, the stems need to be trimmed and the flowers put in freshwater; they can last up to one week if not more. Another good choice is the chrysanthemum flower, which, as is known, adorns the tsar’s daughter, who prefers long-lasting flowers that do not wilt. Daisies can last up to two weeks most of the time, meaning they are ideal when used in long-lasting displays.
Another flower that can be used at weddings is carnations, also known for their long life span. These are pretty solid flowers and can last up to three weeks if adequately cared for. They are suitable for both official and informal occasions. Just like roses, lilies have stunning and fragrant blooms and can last up to 10 days, making them great for cut arrangements, but one has to ensure that they take out the pollen once the flowers are opened.
Of course, flowers also have a longer lifespan, depending on their freshness when purchased. Choose flowers that are still in the bud or just opening them, and do not place them in a vase that is too large for the flowers. These flowers will have a longer life ahead of them than the fully opened flowers, for the fully opened flowers have already reached what is, in effect, the climacteric of their life. Also, look at the color of the leaves and stems because if they are withered or of a different color, they mean that the flowers have withered.
Simple Home Remedies to Extend Flower Life
Apart from those three essential conditions necessary for the flowers to survive, some other home remedies can add more days to the flowers’ life. One of the favorite techniques is adding a little sugar to water to fill your vase. The sugar seems to serve as the nourishment for the flowers so that they remain bright most of the time. However, moderation is advised to avoid cases where excess sugar is produced, encouraging bacterial growth.
Another essential remedy is to pour a few drops of bleach into the vase’s water. Baffling as it may seem, bleach is useful in stopping the breeding of bacteria, thus slowing the polluting of water. A closer natural substitute is to mix a few drops of apple cider vinegar in the solution, as the substance possesses bacterial killing capabilities.
Another item found in almost every household is Aspirin, and this, too, can be used to increase the longevity of flowers. In fact, you can dissolve an aspirin tablet in water by crushing it first. It is suggested that aspirin helps to reduce the pH levels of the water, which would help the flowers have better nutrient uptake.
Last but not least, if you want a ready-made solution to preserve flowers, you can buy a flower preservative from any florist or garden centre. These preservatives can include sugar, acid, and bleach, depending on the type of flowers and the conditions in which they need to be preserved.
Conclusion
Flowers, especially those in the fresh-cut form, possess one of the most unique characteristics of being able to give life to any occasion. Whether they are bought to commemorate a special occasion or to bring the beauty of nature inside your house, it is essential to maintain the flowers in their freshest condition to maximize their appeal. With these flower care tips, being knowledgeable about selecting the right flowers, and applying the remedies in this article, you will be able to prolong the freshness of your flowers. If you do not want your flowers to die soon, it is necessary to take a few minutes of your time and take care of them; then, you will be able to enjoy their beauty for several days.