How to care for fresh cut flowers

After you receive your bouquet, you can help your fresh flowers last longer by following these simple cut flower care guidelines. Peaches & Herbs always use the freshest flowers available to fill your bouquet. Knowing how to make your flowers last longer will add to your enjoyment of them, and will help keep them vibrant and long lasting.

A flower food packet is typically included with your floral delivery, it is basically sugar that helps keep the bacteria count in the water low. An aspirin, (not ibuprofin), works just a well. Aspirin seems to lengthen the life of the flowers. Just be sure to snip a bit off the ends of the flowers each day.

01.

Keep the Water Level High and Check your Flowers Daily

02.

Re-cut stems every few days

03.

Change their water and add additional fresh flower food

04.

Display Flowers in a cool spot

01. Keep the Water Level High and Check your Flowers Daily

Keep the vase or container filled with fresh water at all times. Even if the arrangement contains floral foam, maintaining a high water level is essential to ensure the flowers remain hydrated and last as long as possible. The water provided includes fresh flower food to support the health of the blooms.

If you completely change the water, be sure to thoroughly clean the container first. Refill it with fresh water mixed with a commercial flower food. This may have been supplied by the florist who delivered your arrangement. Flower food contains the proper nutrients to nourish the flowers, inhibit bacterial growth (which can block stems and prevent water absorption), encourage buds to open, and extend the overall life of the bouquet.

Using flower food is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prolong the freshness of your flowers. Always follow the mixing instructions carefully, as incorrect proportions can reduce its effectiveness or even harm the flowers.

02. Re-cut stems every few days

Every few days, remove the flowers from the design and re-cut the stems. Remove 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle to allow the flower the best chance to take up water. Use a sharp knife or sharp floral cutter or scissor. Avoid smashing or piercing the stems, as this can destroy the water vessels in the stem and prevent water absorption. Remove any spent or damaged blooms or foliage that falls below the waterline in the vase.

To avoid disturbing the stem placements in a vase arrangement, tie the stems with twine just above the vase?s edge before taking them out of their vase. Hold the tied arrangement at the twine-bound point to re-cut the stems. Then place them back into the clean vase with the fresh water and a flower food.

03. Change their water and add additional fresh flower food

Be sure to clean the vase before refilling it with plenty of room-temperature fresh water which has been appropriately mixed with the correct amount of fresh flower food. In addition, be sure that no debris is floating in the water (such as dead leaves and cut stem parts) as this could promote the growth of harmful bacteria which could shorten the life of the flower’s.

04. Display Flowers in a cool spot

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. Avoid placing fresh flowers near ripening fruit, which releases tiny amounts of ethylene gas that can age them prematurely.