Got roses for Valentine's? Other flowers? Here are tips to keep them looking great
Did you get roses or other beautiful flowers on Valentine's Day? To keep the gorgeous, and likely expensive, arrangement looking fresh and vibrant days after Feb. 14, try these tips to stave off any dry, dull or wilted look to your romantic bouquet.
How long cut flowers last in your home depends on a few factors, according to gardening and floral experts.
"Some flowers are just genetically predisposed to last longer than others," Amy Enfield, Ph.D., consumer horticulturist and gardening expert with Scotts Miracle-Gro told AccuWeather. "[Other factors include] how long ago they were cut before you received them; how long were they kept at the florist's shop or in a store and at what temperature were they kept; and what you did with them once you got them."
"In general, if properly cared for, most cut flowers will last up to 10 days," Enfield said.
Cut zinnias, carnations, chrysanthemums and baby's breath have been known to last two to three weeks or more, while Alstroemeria can usually last up to two weeks once cut, according to Enfield.
If you find your roses or other cut flowers are wilting too soon for your liking, experts said there are a few ways to extend the life of your arrangement.
Start with a clean vase
You should first wash your vase to remove any bacteria that may be harmful to the flowers.
For a quick way to remove any film inside the vase from the last time you used it, try this solution: Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of white vinegar in a vase filled with water. It will start fizzing, but let the solution sit for about two to three hours and it should loosen any mineral stains, according to Venice, California-based The Bouqs Co. Then wash out and rinse, and you're ready for your flowers.
Trim the stems
When the stems of cut flowers sit in water, the ends can become clogged, which prevents them from absorbing water, according to Enfield.
She recommended using a sharp knife or pruning shears to trim a half-inch to 1 inch from each stem's end when you first bring your flowers home and for every two days afterward. Scissors aren't recommended, as they tend to squish the stems.
Trimming them will allow them to continue receiving a steady flow of water. "To prevent an air bubble, always cut the stem underwater, and cut the stems at a 45-degree angle to maximize water uptake," Enfield said.
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A worker carries packages of carnations to be shipped to the U.S. ahead of Valentine's Day, the biggest holiday of the year for fresh-cut flower sales at the Colibri flowers company in El Rosal, Colombia, on Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) |
Remove below-water foliage, dead petals
Dead petals in your vase could be toxic for your surviving flowers, according to Gena Lorainne, horticulturist and planting expert at London-based Fantastic Services.
"If possible, remove dead petals or flowers from the vase," Lorainne said. "This will prevent the spread of harmful bacteria among the rest of your flowers."
Extra foliage under the waterline rots quickly, forming algae and bacteria, which will hinder your flowers from receiving the nutrients they need. "If there is too much foliage, you can remove some of it because it may consume most of the nutrients before they reach the flowers themselves," she said. Removing leaves from the water will also keep it cleaner longer.
Make your own flower food
In order to keep your Valentine's Day flowers fresh and healthy, experts suggest adding flower food to your vase.
You can use those little packets that come with the flowers to provide nutrients for your floral arrangement or make your own. The packets contain a mixture of sugar, which acts as a nutrient for stems, citric acid to keep the pH low and acidic, which helps water move up the stem faster, and antibacterial powder. "Add it to the water every time you replace it," Lorainne said.
"The food acts as a vitamin for your flowers, giving them nutrients for strength and longevity," florist Emily Pinon, of Ode a la Rose in New York City, told Martha Stewart Living.
You can also make your own by mixing one quart of water with two tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of sugar and a splash of bleach.
Keep your flowers away from heat
The cooler you can keep your cut flowers, the longer they'll last, according to Enfield. "Florists will keep flowers in refrigerated coolers set at 33-35 degrees F, and tropical cut flowers like anthurium, bird-of-paradise and tropical orchids are kept at 50-55 F," she said.
When you get your flowers home, it's recommended that you place your arrangement in a cool room in cool water, away from direct sunlight and from sources of heat, like stoves, fireplaces or heating vents.
You can even store them in the refrigerator overnight to help maintain their freshness.
Change the water
Experts recommend changing the water in your vase every other day to prevent bacterial buildup and to ensure the flowers are getting their nutrients, according to Martha Stewart Living.
"Check the water in the vase daily, especially the first day or two, because fresh-cut flowers can take up a lot of water quickly," Enfield said, adding that it's never a good idea to let the vase run dry.
"If you use a water softener, it's best to use distilled water or demineralized water for your cut flowers, as softened water contains too much sodium, which is not good for flowers," Enfield said.
Also, be sure to wash the vase before refilling it with cold water and give the stems about a half-inch cut every time.
Mist the petals
Flowers drink through their petals as well as through their stems. Giving the arrangement a quick spray from a mister bottle of water is a good idea, says Martha Stewart Living.
There are also many myths out there about what works or doesn't to keep flowers healthy. Here are some to avoid when helping your flowers live longer:
Penny - Some people believe that adding a penny to the vase of water provides copper, which acts as a fungicide and prolongs the vase life of cut flowers. However, the copper in a penny isn't soluble in water.
Aspirin - Adding one or two tablets to your flowers' water will not help keep them fresh longer. This can actually speed up the withering.
Alcohol - Some people will add clear alcohol, like vodka or gin, to their vase's water as a bactericide, but it can be expensive and is not very effective.
Sugar - Adding a teaspoon of sugar to your vase's water just by itself can make the flowers' stems soften and cause the flowers to bloom unevenly.
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