We sat down with our favorite luxury florist, Maison des Fleurs, to learn about keeping blooms looking fresh for longer.
As we spend more time at home, we constantly find ourselves looking for ways to change and refresh our home décor. For us, one of our favorite, and most simple, ways is with a beautiful floral arrangement. A pretty bouquet can brighten up just about any space instantly, but as pretty as fresh flowers are when you first buy them, they eventually wilt and have to be replaced. The good news is that there are ways to improve the lifespan of your flowers!
Here are some tips from Maison des Fleurs on how you can keep your flowers looking fresher for longer:
Make the Cut
We cut stems at an angle because this helps the flower absorb water more effectively, and ensures stems are not sitting flat against the bottom of the vase. We usually cut them at a 45-degree angle. In most cases, the stems will be cut by the florist, however when placing your flowers in a vase at home, if you notice any stems that are not cut at an angle, you can go ahead and cut them. In addition, try and trim the stems every time you change the water as this will help extend their life!
Banish Bacteria
Clean your vase thoroughly before placing your flowers in it – you can even use a drop of bleach to make sure that you kill any bacteria that might be lurking in there. Once the vase is clean, fill it up with room temperature water, and change the water every two or three days. We suggest cleaning the vase thoroughly with soap and a drop of bleach every time you change the water. This will ensure that you don’t give bacteria a chance to grow, as bacteria will reduce the lifespan of your flowers substantially.
Another tip to help you minimise bacterial growth is to remove all the leaves from the part of the stem which will be submerged in the water, as this will cause the leaves to rot, creating bacterial growth.
Food for Thought
If you want to take the extra step in extending the lifespan of your flowers, you can add some flower food to the water. An alternative to flower food that you may already have at home is Aspirin. One crushed Aspirin pill lowers the waters pH level, allowing it to travel faster into the flower.
Location, Location, Location
Where you place your flowers has a big impact on how long they will last! Avoid spaces with direct sunlight or high temperatures, and instead, opt for a cool shaded spot. A little-known fact is that you should also keep your flowers away from fruits. So, if you have a fruit bowl in your kitchen, make sure that you place your blooms far away from it, as fruits produce a ripening hormone called Ethylene, which shortens the lifespan of flowers, causing them to age quicker.
