Tips for Making Your Fresh Cut Flowers Last Longer

Whether you've cut fresh blooms from your backyard or you have received a floral delivery, you will want to do everything that you can to keep your flowers looking beautiful. 

Use the following tips to keep your cut flowers looking fresh and full as long as possible.

Start with the freshest flowers possible
If you're buying fresh flowers to brighten your home each week, make sure you're starting with a fresh bouquet. Buy your flowers at a farmer's market or directly from a florist to ensure the best quality. You can make fresh flowers last longer than ones that have been sitting in cold storage for several days. If you're cutting them yourself, make sure to prepare your vase and water before you cut so that you can instantly transport the flowers into their container.

Get the right container
Your vase or container should be tall enough to cover at least three to four inches of the flower stems, with a few extra inches for additional support. You can always trim your stems to fit the size of your vase. To get ideas for creative containers and floral arrangements, check out online floral specialists. You can find everything from gift bouquets to Martha Stewart floral arrangements. Surf the web for a bit to get ideas that will make your flowers look their best.

The size of your container doesn't matter as much as the cleanliness of your container. Make sure your vase or other container has been cleaned thoroughly, because left over bacteria can age your flowers prematurely. Rinse out all of the soapy residue so it won't damage your flowers.

Trim the ends of your stems
Fill your kitchen sink with cool water. Hold the stems underneath the level of the water and then trim them with sharp scissors. Make a diagonal cut so that all of the ends of the stems are pointed. This will increase the surface area of the flower stem that is exposed to the water, allowing the flowers to take in more water.

Prepare your vase
Fill your vase with enough warm water so that it will cover at least three to four inches of the stems. You can use specially made plant food that will increase the life of your flowers, or you can use aspirin. To use the aspirin method, crush two uncoated aspirin and add them to water. Stir in your plant food and aspirin completely into the water before adding your flowers.

Remove leaves
Submerged leaves are major contributors to the development of bacteria within a vase, which can shorten the shelf life of your flowers. Make sure you remove any leaves that will be below the level of the water to reduce bacteria. If any leaves fall into the water, remove them immediately.

Keep your vase clean
You should remove your flowers and add fresh water (with plant food or aspirin) as much as once a day. It's important to at least switch the water out every three days to keep your flowers fresh. If a layer of scum begins to develop on the vase at the water level, remove the flowers and clean out the vase with a mild soap. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before adding the flowers back in.