After planting colorful, fragrant flowers in your landscape it’s only natural to want to cut a few blooms and bring them indoors to enjoy. How to make cut flowers last long is a frequently asked question because you don’t want them to wilt the same day you cut them.
You can prolong the blooming beauty of cut flowers in several different ways. Use these tips so you can enjoy cut flowers for 7-10 days after harvesting them from your landscape.
Cut Early
Cut the flowers early in the morning before the sun shines on them. The blooms will be at their peak of freshness in the cool of the morning and will last longer after being cut.
Harvest Buds
Don’t cut stems of flowers that are wide open, harvest buds that have just begun to open. You will get to enjoy watching the blooms open and they will last longer.
Make Clean Cuts
Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the stem from the plant and to re-cut each stem right before it goes into the vase of water. Cut the stem at an angle to increase the surface area for water uptake. Make the final cut (and all refreshing cuts) under coll running water in the sink and immediately place the flowers stem in a vase of fresh water. This will ensure air doesn’t block the water-conducting tissues at the end of the stem.
Be careful not to crush the stems when cutting as it will restrict water uptake and give microbes more points of entry.
Use A Clean Vase
Use a clean vase that has been washed in soap and water. Fill vase with warm water and add a packet of flower food. Allow water to come to room temperature before cutting flowers and placing them into the vase.
No Foliage In The Water
Remove all foliage from the stems that is below the water line of the vase. Submerged foliage encourages microbial growth that will clog stems and prevent them from absorbing water.
Keep Them Cool
Place the vase of cut flowers in a cool location to help them last longer. Florists keep cut flowers in a cooler to make them last longer.
Refresh Water And Stems
Every other day, change the water in the vase and re-cut the bottom of the stems. Add a packet of flower food each time the water is refreshed. This will keep the cut flowers looking good longer by keeping them uptaking water and food.
DIY Flower Food
Instead of flower food packets, you can mix 2-tablespoons of sugar and 2-tablespoons of white vinegar into the water to keep cut flowers fed and prevent bacteria growth.
4-tablespoons of lemon-lime soda placed into the vase water will work well too.
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