How To Keep Flowers Fresh In A Vase After Cutting

The container where you keep your flowers has a lot to do with keeping the flowers fresh. You need to keep the flowers in a clean vase free from any kind of debris or harmful particles.

You should know that the size and type of the vase are determined by considering the species and size of the flowers.

Taller Vase: For the lighter, more fragile cut flowers, it would be best if you choose a taller vase.

Low Vase: A low vase would be good for heavy blooms, but make sure to cut them short before keeping them in the vase. The low vase is found to provide extra space for the cut flowers to spread.

Before you put the flowers in the chosen vase having water, it has been suggested to cut the stems of the flowers to 45 degrees.

This way with increased surface area, you allow for a greater water flow throughout the flower.

However, for some flowers like roses, it would be best to cut the stems underwater which will prevent the flowers from having water bubbles.

Most flowers prefer room-temperature water for them to stay fresh but some flowers like bulb flowers keep best in cool water or even cold water.

You need to place the cut flower vessel in more of a kind of conditioned room. This way, you can maintain the temperature of the cut flower.

Remember to fill your vase with water slightly more than half of its size!

You need to make sure the water of the vase containing the cut flowers is replaced with fresh water every day. You wouldn’t want to allow any space for bacterial growth in your flowers with the use of dirty water.

It would be best if you use drinkable water most likely. This way, your flowers can get proper nutrients and hydration.

Your cut flowers need protection from several things, if you are to keep them fresh for the intended purposes.

Protection from Sunlight

Most of the flowers once cut are affected by direct sunshine exposure. Therefore, it would be best if you keep them away from the direct sunlight and far from hot appliances.

Protection from Ethylene Gas

Flowers are more likely to wilt if they are exposed to ethylene gas. You should know that fresh fruits in your kitchen produce abundant ethylene gas.

Remember to keep the cut flowers away from the fresh fruits!

In your nearby store, you can find florists and supermarkets where they sell packed mixtures of important preservatives that help in lasting the flower.

These packets contain a balanced composition of sugar and acidifiers that help in feeding flowers and controlling the pH level of water respectively.

Click for more tips on making flowers last longer!

If you are seeking alternatives for flower food packets, you can also try some homemade methods for your flower food.

One of the most popular recipes for flower food is to fill your vase with water, sprite, and bleach.

Water: It is for maintaining the moisture of the cut flower and circulation.

Sprite: It is for adding sugar to the water.

Bleach: It is for killing the bacteria that can cause damage to the flower.

The combination of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and bleach can be another flower food to prepare at home.

Giving a little alcohol to your cut flowers can decelerate their aging process. If you add a little alcohol to the water containing cut flowers, it prevents the flowers from producing ethylene gas.

Ethylene gas is responsible for promoting the wilting process of the cut flowers.

If the leaves of the flower stem constantly touch the water of the vase, they are prone to rotting, inviting bacteria.

Therefore, it would be best if you regularly check for the submerged leaves and prune them right away.

After cutting fresh flowers, you may be required to store them in the appropriate place with the right measures to keep their freshness alive.

Keep in mind to be careful while handling the cut flowers because they are highly sensitive and vulnerable, prone to get damaged pretty easily.

Make sure to avoid directly touching the flower with the hand instead hold it through the stem.

Storing the Flowers in the Fridge

Storing flowers in the fridge overnight can help the flowers last longer, if given proper care to the specific type of blossoms. Learn about storing flowers in the fridge:

1. Keep the Temperature Right

Set your fridge to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Flowers can withstand the cold, but you don’t want to freeze them or the water in their vase.

If an area of your fridge gets colder than the rest, especially the back, avoid keeping flowers there.

2. Make Some Room

Clear an area for the vase and make sure there is enough room between the flowers and the top of the fridge.

Move shelves down if you can or if you need the space. Without enough room, you risk damaging your blossoms.

3. Move the Produce

Keep your flowers away from certain fruits and vegetables because they produce ethylene gas that speeds up the flower aging process.

Your safest bet is to remove produce from the fridge since it would be counterproductive to keeping flowers preserved in the cold.

In addition to this, you can also press flowers to last them longer!

A flower’s longevity in floral foam is dependent on similar factors as that of the vase. Scroll down to learn about the effective approaches to keep your cut flowers in floral foam.

1. Soak the Foam Adequately

As water enters floral foam, air needs to exit. Allow this exchange by placing the foam on the surface of the water in a tub or basin.

Fill the container to a depth of water that is about the same height as the block of foam. Let it soak for a few minutes.

2. Choose the Right Flower Food

Certain mixes of flower food cannot flow through a block of foam. As a result, particles can get trapped in the block and cause bacteria growth.

Therefore, use a liquid food that doesn’t have particles.

3. Cut the Foam Correctly

Try to cut floral foam only after it has soaked. If you try to cut dry foam, you risk crushing the delicate cells that are meant to hold water for your blooms.

Your goal should be to avoid crushing the foam as you put it inside the vase, so a smaller cut would do good.

4. Add Flowers Carefully

You want a snug fit with your stems in the foam. To achieve the right fit, do not pre-puncture holes since they may be too wide for the stems.

Instead, cut the stems at a sharp angle and insert them into the foam. You can use a wooden florist pick to help flowers stand straight.

The shelf life of the cut flowers majorly depends upon the place or approach you adopt to keep the cut flowers and the techniques you apply while cutting them.

Scroll down to learn about how to cut your flowers below:

1. Use Sharp Tools

A dull blade risks crushing a stem, and a crushed stem won’t be able to drink up as much water as an open one.

Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to get the best cut. Use gloves or other kind of protection to be safe.

2. Cut At an Angle

Be sure that every stem is at an angle when you cut them. A flat stem will sit flush with the bottom of a vase, meaning the stem won’t get the water it needs.

Cutting at the proper angle helps to make the flower look more attractive.

3. Choose the Right Time of Day

In the early morning or late evening, a plant contains the most water it will have all day.

When cutting flowers, do so at either of these times of day to ensure your flower has enough water and nutrients inside.