Preserved flowers can brighten up any room, but without roots to sustain them, they’ll start to wilt and die in a vase. Thankfully, there’s a way to make those colorful blooms last much longer with proper care. You’ll need to take a few extra steps beyond snipping your stems and throwing them in the face but trust us: The payoff is worth it.
The sad truth is that flower bouquets don’t last forever. On the bright side, there are guidelines and little-known tips you can use to ensure the longevity of your flowers. We are uncovering everything you need to know about how to make flowers last longer and even putting a few theories to the test.
There’s no need to buy fancy preservatives or so-called flower food. You can use pantry staples to give your roses and daffodils an extra burst of life.
Avoid direct sunlight and the likes
Your flowers will last longer in a room with cool temperatures. Avoid displaying them in direct sunlight or near appliances that generate heat. You’ll also want to avoid areas like open windows, heating or cooling vents, and ceiling fans as they can cause the flowers to quickly dehydrate. You also shouldn’t display your bouquet near fruit.
Try the aspirin mix
Mix 1 crushed aspirin into your vase of fresh flowers. Aspirin is said to lower the pH level of the water allowing it to travel through the flower faster, preventing wilting. Aspirin might be the solution to a headache, but it’s not your best bet for keeping your flowers fresh.
An age-old, household remedy to keep fresh cut flowers from wilting and they come in many names; Panadol, Paracetamol, Tylenol… you name it. Grab one, crush it and add into the vase water before adding your flowers and just be sure to change the water every few days. Longer-lasting perky flowers, and no headaches.
Use water wisely
Regular flowers keep best in room temperature water, and bulb flowers keep best in cold water. For either cold or lukewarm water, fill your vase so it’s three-quarters full.
Prune
Prune any leaves below the waterline. Any leaves submerged underwater can rot and cause bacterial growth, so it’s important to regularly check your flowers and remove any underwater leaves.
Mix up some “flower food”
Instead of buying flower food packets, concoct your own using one of several methods. The most popular recipe is to fill your vase with three parts water, one part non-diet clear soda (for sugar), and a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria. Another common flower food recipe is to mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of sugar, and half a teaspoon bleach into a quart vase of water.
Effectivity of Soda
While you shouldn’t indulge in these sugary refreshers, the sugar content is exactly the reason why sodas make great perk-me-ups for flowers! All you need is just ¼ cup mixed into the water vase and you’re done. If you’re using a clear vase and want the water to remain clear, you can always opt for clear sodas like Sprite of 7-up, instead of Coke.
Effectivity of apple cider
Sure you’ve heard plenty of “Apple Cider Vinegar” (ACV) remedies to combat a variety of other things – we’ll save those for another day. But, here’s one that’s especially great if you want to preserve your flowers to last longer. Just mix 2 tablespoons of ACV and 2 tablespoons of sugar with water in the vase before setting your flowers in. Be sure to change out the mixture with fresh ones every few days!
Effectivity of sugar, and everything nice
Every household has them and they make a great no-brainer preservative to keep blooms fresh! Just 3 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar for a liter of warm water in a vase is all you need. What this mix does is, nourish the plants (sugar) and prevent any form of bacterial growth (vinegar) in the water. It’s amazing how long this will keep your flower arrangements fresh and vibrant!
Key Takeaway
Whether it’s a bouquet of gorgeous roses from your significant other, a friendly bunch of birthday daisies from your bestie, magenta peonies fresh from the garden, or that impulsive bunch of tulips you grabbed on your way through the grocery store check outline, there are some helpful concrete things you can do to keep cut flowers fresh, lasting longer and looking their best.