7 Ways for Flowers to Last Longer

I hear it all the time.

Flowers don't last!

Well, neither did the $100 dinner you had last night, but that's another story...

Avoid this!

Here is a list from Simon Says Roses Florists of 7 ways for your flowers to last longer:

1. Get them in water...fast. Flowers are thirsty creatures. They love water...in fact they demand it. Much more than an hour out of water, and flowers start to suffer. Especially susceptible are those cash & carry bouquets you may pick up from the grocery store, that sometimes sit in a car for hours while you're shopping before you get them home & hydrated
2. Keep them in water. It's usually easy to see the water level in a vase arrangement, but basket arrangements must be kept soaked as well. In a basket, flowers are arranged in flower foam, which can dry out quickly. Keep the foam soaked.
3. Use the flower food. Follow the instructions supplied by your florist...usually mixing the contents of the packet with a litre of water. The contents of the flower food is scientifically formulated consisting of acid to bring the water to the correct ph level, an anti-bacterial agent to clean the water, and a nutrient to feed the blooms. All fancy talk for a balanced mix of bleach, acid, and sugar.
4. Re-cut the bottom of the stems. On an angle. If you make a square cut, the bottom of the stems sit flush to the bottom of the vase, and can't "suck up" any water. Do this every 2-3 days, as every time you re-cut, the flower tries to heal itself and forms a scab. You literally have to keep removing the scab for the flower to keep on drinking.
5. Keep them cool. That's why florists have a flower cooler for storage. The cooler is set at a temperature of 2-4 degrees Celsius, with 85% humidity. This keeps flowers in a dormant stage. Flowers stored at room temperature die 4 to 6 times faster than those in a cooler. That's why flowers are transported in refrigerated trucks from the wholesaler or distributor...often from Miami as they make their way from South America! Now I know you can't live in a house at 4 degrees...but if you have an enclosed space like a garage or porch, try leaving your flowers out overnight. They'll appreciate the effort!
6. Keep flowers away from fruit & car exhaust. Because flowers HATE ethylene gas. As fruit ripens (especially apples), a huge amount of ethylene is generated, killing any flowers close by. Same for vehicle emissions. Do you ever wonder how we have B.C. grown apples in February? The fruit is picked green, stored in a cool dark shed, and then blasted with ethylene before hitting the grocers' shelves. Those green apples suddenly turn red. And now you know!
7. Don't strip the leaves. Well...don't strip all the leaves. Leaves contain bacteria, so if the leaves are submerged below the water level in a vase, pluck them off. But leaves also help transport water up the stem to the bloom, so leave the leaves above the water level alone. Same thing for de-thorning roses. Just remove the tips. If you clip too close to the stem you're hurting the flower, and a scab will form hindering the flower's ability to suck up water. A lot like the "bent-neck rose syndrome" in our picture!

Follow these tips & tricks and your flowers can last a very long time.

Enjoy!