HOW TO CARE FOR FRESH CUT FLOWERS

Keep the vase, container or liner filled with fresh water. Even if the container has floral foam, you should keep the water level high to promote long lasting flowers. The container’s water has a fresh flower food added to it. If you completely change the water, you should also thoroughly clean the container. Add fresh water mixed with a commercial fresh flower food. These flower foods contain the correct ingredients to properly nourish the flowers, keep bacteria at bay (which can block the stems and prevent them from absorbing water), encourage buds to open, and lengthen the life of the bouquet. It’s one of the best—and easiest—ways to extend the life of your flowers, but be sure to follow the directions on the package correctly. Improperly mixed flower food can actually do more harm than good.

After you receive your bouquet, you can help your fresh flowers last longer by following these simple cut flower care guidelines. At 4165Flower, your local Toronto Florist, we always use the freshest flowers available to fill your bouquet. Knowing how to make your flowers last longer will add to your enjoyment of them, and will help keep them vibrant and long lasting.

A floral life extender packet is always included with your floral delivery, it is basically sugar that helps keep the bacteria count in the water low. Just be sure to snip a bit off the ends of the flowers each day. If you don’t have any floral preservative left, a simple trick that you can make at home will help as well. Take some clear soda pop [like Sprite or 7-up and not the diet kind] and mix about ¼ cup of the pop with 1 liter of tepid fresh water. The soda pop contains a fungicide as well as sugar which will help with the longevity of your flowers.

Every few days, remove the flowers from the design and re-cut the stems. Remove 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle to allow the flower the best chance to take up water. Use a sharp knife or sharp floral cutter or scissor. Avoid smashing or piercing the stems, as this can destroy the water vessels in the stem and prevent water absorption. Remove any spent or damaged blooms or foliage that falls below the waterline in the vase.

Be sure to clean the vase before refilling it with room-temperature water mixed with the proper amount of fresh flower food. Be sure no debris is floating in the water (such as leaves and stem parts) as this could promote the growth of bacteria which can shorten a flower’s life.

Most flowers prefer temperatures between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius) and are best displayed away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or on top of televisions or radiators, which give off heat and can cause flowers to dehydrate. Avoid placing fresh flowers near ripening fruit, which releases tiny amounts of ethylene gas that can age them prematurely.