How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh

It's very painful to see flowers wild and die after a few days. Since nature has provided flowers with a short life and made them ephemeral, there is nothing that can be done to extend their lives. At the most, we can slow down the wilting or dying process for flowers with some tricks. These few hacks will help you in keeping flowers alive longer.

When using the old vase for fresh-cut flowers, clean it thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Use a sponge to remove the grime and dirt that might have accumulated inside the vase for is not in use for a long time. Let the vase dry naturally and wipe it with a soft, clean towel. This will make the vase free of bacteria.

When the vase is fixed, trim the stems of flowers by half or one inch from the bottom. You can even trim the stems depending on the height of the vase. If the stems of flowers are hard, fill the two-third of the vase with clean water. This limit of water is essential for woody stems like in roses. For softer stems like tulips, fill one-fourth of the vase with tap water. After the stems are trimmed, place the flowers immediately in the vase water.

Since water easily gets contaminated by bacteria, it is necessary to change the vase water daily with fresh and clean water. If the water is not clean or cloudy, bacteria will form and start causing form to the stems.

Take out the flowers from the vase by holding the stems. Throw the water and rinse the vase. Check if there is any dirt or gunk stuck inside the vase or on the rim. You can even the flower stems under running water.

If leaves are sprouting out of the stems and touching the water in the vase, prune them away. This will prevent the infiltration of bacteria. Check and remove leaves that are dead or loose daily.

Adding a small quantity of flower food to the vase water will take care of nourishment for flowers. Just ensure that the flower food gets dissolved in water immediately, and is not floating or lying at the bottom of the vase. Also, don't overfeed the flowers. The combination of bleach, sugar, and citric acid in flower food will kill harmful bacteria and provide a thriving environment for flowers.

Flowers also need a comfortable temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold. Placing the vase under direct sunlight is strict 'no'. Also, keep away the flowers from a heater or any warm places. When flowers are exposed to heat, they draw more water leaving the stems dehydrated, which ultimately results in wilting.