• Cut the stems.

Use a sharp, non-serrated knife or gardening secateurs to cut around 3 cm off the bottom of the stems at a 45-degree angle. Remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline, as this can breed bacteria – which can deal a fatal blow to your blooms.

• Keep your vase filled with cold water.

Flowers stay fresher, longer when they can get a drink. Watch your water. If your flowers came in a box or in a container with floral foam, add fresh water every day. Change the water every second day. 

• Nurture flowers with flower food.

Florists and supermarkets sell pre-packaged mixtures of all the essential preservatives that help cut flowers last. Flower food should regulate pH, increase water absorption, and provide nutrients. There are many other tips and tricks to make fresh cut flowers last longer.

Here are some of them.

Apple cider vinegar. Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into your vase of water. 

Sugar. Only add a small amount of sugar. Just one teaspoon per quart of water. 

Aspirin. Crush one aspirin into powder and mix it into the water in a vase before adding your bouquet of flowers.

• Check your flowers daily.

Immediately remove dead or wilting leaves, petals and stems from fresh flower arrangement.

• Keep your flowers out of harsh environments.

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.

 

How long do cut flowers last? 

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It depends upon the species and their freshness. If you’re looking for flowers that last a long time in a vase, consider: chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria, lilies, and clematis. All of these flowers should last at least ten days in a vase with fresh clean water. Chrysanthemums last upwards of four weeks. Other flowers such as lilacs, daisies, and peonies last a considerably shorter time - three to seven days, depending on the variety.