You have just received a beautiful bouquet. Now how do you make it last? With a bit of care, most cut flowers will last 7-10 days, and some varieties even longer. Here is our florist-tested guide.
First, trim the stems. Use sharp scissors or a knife and cut at a 45-degree angle. This creates a larger surface area for water uptake and prevents the stem from sitting flat on the bottom of the vase. Re-trim every few days.
Strip any foliage that would sit below the water line. Leaves in water rot quickly, and bacteria is the number one killer of cut flowers. Clean water equals longer-lasting flowers.
Change the water every two days. Do not just top it up — empty the vase, rinse it, and refill with fresh cool water. Add the flower food that comes with your bouquet (or a pinch of sugar and a drop of vinegar).
Keep flowers away from direct sunlight, heaters, and fruit bowls. Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas which causes flowers to age faster. A cool spot out of direct sun is ideal.
Remove any flowers that are past their prime. One wilting flower will speed up the decline of the others. Pull them out as soon as they start to droop and enjoy the rest for a few more days.