The Care & Maintenance of Cut Flowers

It is important to know how to care for your new flowers so that you can enjoy them for the longest time possible.

1. Keep your flowers in water whenever possible. Tap water is generally hard water and has a lot of minerals in it which makes it alkaline. Alkaline water does not easily travel through the stems of your cut flower and can shorten their vase life tremendously. Distilled or de-ionized water can overcome this problem. Although, the easier solution would be to just put the flower food that comes with your gift, in the water, which will acidify the water.
2. Cut the ends of the stems with a sharp knife, on a diagonal, while the stems are under water.
3. Remove any leaves that fall below the water level in the water. This foliage will help to promote bacteria, which is often the cause of leaves wilting or never opening.
4. Use a clean vase and luke-warm water. Avoid metal containers which can neutralize the effects of flower food.
5. Add the flower food you received with your gift to the water. There are many home remedies that people have used throughout the years - pennies, aspirins, lemonade, household bleach, even white wine - however the flower food will probably work the best.
6. Keep your fresh flowers away from any ripening fruit or vegetables, or dying flowers. These items give off ethylene gas which can damage your fresh flowers.
7. Keep flowers away from any draughts, direct heat or sunlight.
8. Remove any flowers or leaves that are wilting.