Make Fresh Cut Flowers Last

By Lori Wheat

Tips for keeping cut flowers fresh from Lori Wheat of family-owned Lafayette Florist:

• Use a vase that holds plenty of water & keep it full. Take the vase to the sink every day and fill with fresh water.

• Bacteria is the main culprit in shortened vase life. If water is murky, clean vase with an antibacterial soap, add fresh water, and replace the flowers.

• Fresh flowers don’t like any heat source and don’t need sun. Keep away from sunny windows, fireplaces, & electronics. The cooler, the better!

• If you are bringing fresh cut flowers home to put in your own vase, recut the stems. This fresh cut absorbs water more efficiently.

• Put a fresh cut on roses every day, clean the vase and replace the water.

• You can often revive a wilted rose by placing it in a bath of sink water for a few hours. Recut the stem and see if it re-hydrated.

• Cut off the pistil in the center of lilies as soon as they open. Not only will blooms last longer, the messy pollen on the stamens won’t shed.

• Floral preservative works well, but must be measured correctly. Purchase at a professional florist.

• Cut flowers from your garden need immediate hydration above all. Make sure you put freshly cut stems into a water bath or a vase that covers as much of the stem as possible for a few hours. After hydrating, design the flowers into a vase of your choice.