Order by 2PM for same-day delivery! All orders after 2PM will be delivered the next day.
December 14, 2021
Flowers- the gift that keeps on giving, if you know how to keep flowers thriving! Floral arrangements make for the perfect gift because they look gorgeous, smell great, and can often last for weeks when you know how to properly care for them. It’s not as simple as just changing their water; there are a lot of little tricks you can do to prolong the life of your beautiful floral arrangements. Lucky for you, we know all of the best tricks! It’s important to note that all flowers are different so what works for roses might not work for hydrangeas. The environment they are in also plays a huge role; too much or too little sun is also important. So to keep flowers thriving, follow these important tips!
Cut Your Stems
A general rule to follow with all floral arrangements is to cut the stems as soon as you get them home. If you flowers were delivered in a vase with water than this probably done by the florist, but if you grab a bouquet from the store or it was delivered in a box you will definitely need to do this first thing! To cut your stems you will want to use sharp scissors or garden shears and cut at least one-half inch off the bottom of the stems. If you’re cutting them to fit in a specific vase you can of course cut off more. You should cut at a slight angle to help the nutrients get into the stems easier. The reason we do this is because of the vascular system in the flower stems. Cutting them will help water and nutrients get into the blooms. As soon as you cut them you should put them directly into water.
Watering Rules
Water is extremely important for flowers. Typically, all flowers enjoy room-temperature water. Water that is too hot will start to cook the flowers, which you do not want. If you’re working with a flower that blooms during cooler months, like daffodils and tulips, you will want to use cooler water. This can help them last longer. When placing your flowers in water make sure that you remove any leaves or flowers that will be below the water line. Flowers and leaves that sit in the water can easily spread bacteria, which will kill the flowers quickly. Changing your water is extremely important. You should always wash and refill your vase at least every three days. We recommend trimming your stems about a half-inch whenever you do this as well.
Keep Them Cool
Flowers prefer to be out of direct sunlight and in rooms with a cooler temperature. Avoid placing them near windows you keep open, near heating/AC vents, or ceiling fans. While they like cold air, they will dehydrate if they are placed too closely to vents blowing out direct air. Another tip to keep in mind when deciding where to place them: avoid fruit! This might sound weird but fruit that is ripening will release ethylene gas into the air around it, which can kill your flowers faster.
Quick Tips
Above we covered the basics when caring for your flowers but we actually have a few more tricks up our sleeves!
If you bought a bouquet that has unopened flowers in it, there is a way to speed up the blooming process. We only recommend this if you NEED them for a specific event because this can kill them quicker in the end. To open them up more quickly you will just use warm water, rather than room temperature water.
Don’t forget to feed your flowers! Always use the flower food packet that comes with your arrangements to provide more nourishment for your flowers. If you run out of food you can easily make more! Mix a few drops of bleach and a few drops of a clear soda together and add it to your water. After that you should add a crushed up Vitamin C tablet to the water. This will help provide the nourishment that they crave!
As we said above, flowers love cooler air. I’m sure you’ve noticed how florists keep bouquets in fridges until it’s time to sell them, and with good reason. If you really want to keep your bouquet looking it’s best for longer, try putting it in the fridge overnight. Since they thrive in cooler places, this is a great place for them to “sleep” and slow down the aging process. Not only will this help overnight, it’ll help during the day because the water will stay cooler longer.
If you enjoyed learning these tips, we encourage you to visit us in person for a BYOB floral design class! During this class we will teach you not only how to keep flowers thriving, but also how to arrange them into the perfect bouquet. From arrangements in baskets to Christmas wreaths, we have classes to help you create anything you’d like. Petals & Pinot is also a full floral boutique! We can deliver flowers to you in our local delivery areas, or you can visit our shop in Lewisville, Texas. Flowers for anniversaries, birthdays, or weddings, we have you covered!