It’s Saturday afternoon & you’ve just returned home from the farmer’s market.
You’re unpacking your pesticide-free vegetables, a bundle fresh herbs, and you’re about to set your local, organically grown flower bouquet in that vase your grandma gave you.
Before you do, make sure you follow these 6 tips to prolong the life of your flower bouquet.
Wash Out Your Vase with Soap & Water
I know that sounds simple, but it’s worth repeating.
Before you go to put in your new bouquet of flowers into a vase, wash it with soap and hot water.
Even if you are pulling it out of a cupboard.
If you wouldn’t drink water out of the vase, your flowers shouldn’t either.
When dust and dirt is in the water, it will clog the flowers’ stems, making it impossible or more difficult for them to stay hydrated.
If you want to prolong the vase life of your flowers, start with a just cleaned vase. t
Then fill the vase with cold water.
Re-Cut the Stems at a 45 Degree Angle
Most flowers will love it if you re-cut their stems at a 45 degree angle when you first bring them home and put them in your new, freshly cleaned vase.
This helps them to quickly rehydrate in their fresh cool water.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you have a bouquet of daffodils and other spring-time flowers, refrain from cutting the daffodils.
Daffodils emit a sap into the water that will kill other flowers.
When I cut them before adding them to your bouquet, they are cut and then conditioned in a bucket of water on their own for a few hours, to allow for their cut to dry up so that no sap is emitted when they a bundled in a bouquet with other flowers and greenery.
Remove any Foliage Below the Water Line
As you put the bouquet in the vase make sure that any foliage, leaves or even other flower buds, are above the water line.
The more “stuff” in your water, the more chances for bacteria to grow and decrease the life of your bouquet.
Choose a Place Away from Direct Sunlight & Heat
Although your heat-loving zinnias love a sun-filled 80 degree July day when they’re out in the field, they do not appreciate a sunny spot in your home.
Find a place in your home for your bouquet that is out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources, like a heater or radiator.
Change the Water Every Day
It might seem excessive, but you need to change the water every day in your vase.
Flowers are very susceptible to bacteria growth in the water and the only way to limit that is by changing the water every day.
Recut the Stems Every Day
Every day when you change the water, use clean scissors to cut 1/2″ inch of your stems away at a 45 degree angle.
This will help the flowers keep rehydrating.
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Schul Farmstead 