How to make your flowers last longer at home.
Simple flower care tips from Flowers by Grace
Every arrangement I make is carefully conditioned to give your flowers the best possible start. But with a little extra care at home, you can keep your blooms fresh and enjoy them for as long as possible.
Whether you’ve been gifted a bouquet or treated yourself, here are some simple steps to look after your blooms.
A quick reminder before we start!
As a florist, I love seeing flowers in all of their stages, from tight bud to full bloom and then a soft fade. Cut flowers aren’t meant to last forever, and that’s part of their charm.
A bouquet is meant to be enjoyed in the moment, not kept forever. With the tips below, you can help keep your flowers fresh for longer, but don’t worry if some petals fall or stems start to soften. That’s completely natural.
Should you untie your bouquet?
My bouquets are hand-tied to create a balanced arrangement. If your vase is a good size and shape for the arrangement, you can place the bouquet straight in to keep the design as it was created.
But if the flowers feel a bit cramped in your chosen case, or if you prefer a natural, more relaxed shape, you can go ahead and snip the string. This gives the stems room to breathe and can help them take up more water.
Either option works- it depends on the look you prefer and the vase you’re using.
5 simple steps to make your cut flowers last longer
1. Trim the stems
When you bring your flowers home, trim the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp scissors. This helps the flowers take in more water and stops the ends from sealing off.
You can re-trim the stems every 2-3 days to keep water flowing and the flowers hydrated.
2. Use a clean vase
A simple one but using a clean vase can make a big difference! Bacteria in dirty containers will shorten the life of your flowers. Give your vase a good wash with hot, soapy water before popping your bouquet in.
3. Change the water regularly
Change the water your flowers are sat in every 2 days. Flower food is a good option if you have some and if not, a teaspoon of sugar or a few drops of bleach works in a pinch.
4. Keep flower cool and away from fruit
Your flowers will last longer if they are kept in a cool spot away from direct sunlight, radiators or fireplaces. Keep them away from fruit bowls too as ripening fruit gives off ethylene gas which speeds up the wilting of flowers.
5. Refresh and rearrange
The most important step in my opinion. Every few days, remove any flowers that are part their best. Not only does this improve the look of the bouquet, but it can also give your flowers a new lease of life.
I enjoy moving the remaining flowers to a smaller vase- it’s a lovely way to refresh the arrangement and keep enjoying is as it evolves.
Final thoughts: Make the most of your flowers
Even with perfect care, cut flowers will only last so long- and that’s okay. Their fleeting beauty is part of their charm. But with just a bit of extra attention, you can make the most of your bouquet and enjoy each stage as it comes.
