Practical Guide To Keeping Flowers Fresh For Longer

Why Bloom Care Makes All The Difference

There's nothing like a bouquet of flowers to lighten your mood and spruce up your home! Plus, it's also one of the most special and heartwarming gifts we can receive on special occasions.

Sadly, we all know that blooms don't last forever. But with a little initiative and a good deal of TLC, you can keep your precious blossoms fresh and blooming for longer!

We've provided a simple guideline to help you sustain your beloved flowers' vibrance for a long time. Enjoy your beautiful bouquet to the fullest by following these simple steps!

If you're interested in a formal course or want to get certified as an expert on all things about flowers, we recommend looking into professional bodies and colleges in gardening and floristry such as the American Institute of Floral Designers of the AIFD (www.aifd.org), the American Floral Endowment (www.endowment.org), and other similar organizations offering programs specializing in floristry.

Clean your vase

Containers accumulate a lot of dust and debris that can make your water cloudy and affect your flowers. Even if your vase is newly-bought, be sure to wash it for safety.

Cleaning your vase is actually easy and inexpensive - you'll have everything you need at home! Just wash with warm water, a cap of bleach, and let it dry.

Another DIY cleaning solution is a salt and vinegar paste. Just mix a tablespoon of salt with a tablespoon of vinegar, apply the mixture to your vase with a clean cloth or brush, and let it set for half an hour. Afterwards, wipe it off until all residue is removed, rinse out with warm water, and leave to dry.

Add flower food

Yep, you read it right: cut flowers need food, too! It enables them to blossom in full health and helps avoid infections that can reduce their lifespan.

Flower food has three components: 1) citric acid, which balances the pH level of water for optimum health; 2) sugar, which boosts their energy; and 3) bleach, which inhibits fungi and bacterial growth.

Your local nursery or online stores may have flower food packets readily available. But if you prefer to make your own at home, the recipe is easy to follow! All you need is 1 quart of water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

There are also plenty of alternatives to this recipe! Clear soda, apple cider vinegar, and even vodka have been proven to be effective at nourishing flowers.

Prune away

Leaves and foliage that are kept on the stems and submerged in water will rot easily, introducing bacteria to your flowers which can cause disease and infection.

So it's a good idea to prune your flowers before placing them in your vase and see to it that there are no leaves below the waterline.

Nolan's Flowers & Gifts

Additional Information

Social Media Channels