If you’re looking for tips on how to keep flowers fresh longer, this article will share florist secrets to significantly extend the life of cut flowers. What you do to the flowers before you even think about placing them in centerpieces, bouquets, or arrangements makes a big difference in the life expectancy of the bouquet.
First of all, you need to process your flowers as soon as you bring them home. Start with more demanding blooms like roses and gerberas, then move on to all other blooms, saving foliage for last. Make sure that the containers you use to put your flowers in are spotlessly clean. To clean them, use a solution of 1/3 bleach, a few drops of dish soap and the rest water.
what will you need
* Buckets or vases to put flowers
* Plastic tube
* Floral scissors (garden)
* Rubber gloves
* Flower Food (small packets-1 per vase)
*Javex
Step one
Prepare your buckets, vases or containers with a solution of water and flower food. Follow the directions on the food package to mix the proper ratio. As a guide, a small packet of flower food is good for a medium to large vase. Room temperature water is best.
Second step
Remove all the leaves from the lower half of the stems: this will prevent mold and contamination. Wear heavy rubber gloves and gently slide your hand down the stem. This trick will work for most flowers; however, some flowers may require you to cut thick leaves and spines with scissors.
Step three
Sanitize your scissors by putting some Javex on a cloth or paper towel and wiping your scissors with it.
Step four
Cut flowers underwater. The easiest way to cut flowers underwater in a home setting is to use a plastic tub or kitchen sink. Make sure your sink or water tub is super clean by cleaning it with a mixture of bleach and dish soap and water. Fill the tub with water, and then use flower (garden) shears to cut the bottom of the stem under water. Cut at least 2 inches (5 cm) off the bottom at an angle to help increase water conduction into the flower stem. Do not use scissors, as they will damage the vital capillaries of the stem cells and cause premature death.
step five
Once your flowers are cut (processed), place them in your prepared vases or buckets. Check and replenish the water every other day when necessary.
made of flower
The underwater cut draws water immediately into the flower stem and then into the flower head. This helps eliminate air lock and prevents kinked necks. The stem is the lifeline of the flower. When floral capillaries become clogged, water uptake slows and flowers are stressed.