Caring For Fresh Cut Flowers

Temperature

Most cut flowers will last longest when kept in a relatively cool area. Whilst it is not practical to turn your home into a cool-room just so that you can enjoy your flowers for a little while longer, there are some practical steps that you can take to achieve maximum life from your flower purchase. Firstly do not leave your flowers in a hot car after you have bought them. If you are out shopping, it is best to purchase your flowers last so that they are out of water and out of the heat for the least amount of time possible.

When you get your flowers home, try to display them in a cooler area of your home. Avoid directly in front of windows, near heater ducts or close to lamps. If you really must display your flowers close to a heat source for example when having visitors, then move them away from that heat source after your guests have left.

Strip Foliage

Remove any foliage that will be below the vase waterline. Flowers and leaves naturally have a number of bacteria growing on them, as a result any foliage that is left below the waterline tends to make bacteria grow very quickly in the vase, creating smell and decreasing the life of the flowers. Field grown flowers are particularly susceptable to this, often seen in Calendula, Stock, Carnations and Daisies. Foliage on most flowers can be removed simply by grasping around the flower stem and then pulling downwards, however roses and other thorned flowers can be stripped using a small knife, or with rose strippers which your florist would be able to supply you with.

Vase Water

With all cut flowers it is essential that you keep the water in the vase very clean. You can help to maintain the water cleanliness by added the flower food satchet that your florist would have supplied when you bought your flowers, otherwise it is possible to make your own flower food. It is recommended that vase water be changed daily, however more realistically it is okay to change it every second day.

When you are changing the water take the time to trim the stems of the flowers. This is done by using sharp secateurs or florist snips, and cutting off the last 2cm of the stem. When trimming the stem, cut it on an angle as this will still allow water to be drawn into the stem even if the stem is resting on the bottom of the vase. Tropical flowers tend to drink less water than most other flower types, however do check their water level daily and top up if necessary.

When changing water, use cool water, this helps to keep the flower cool, reduce its respiration rate and prolong the flowers life. The only time that you would not use cool water is when trying to accelerate the opening of flowers such as lillies. Adding warm but not hot water to these flowers can increase the rate at which they open.

It is important to always trim the stems when changing the water for two reasons. Firstly, over time the stem end will become blocked by impurities in the vase water. The only way to remove this blockage and allow fresh water to be drawn into the stem is by cutting the stem away. Secondly, when the stem has been out of water for any period of time, air will be drawn into the stem which will hamper its ability to draw water. Cutting off the bottom 2cm removes the area in which the air blockage is located, thus allowing water to easily be drawn into the stem. Once you have trimmed the stem, immediately plase the flower back into water.

Water Level

Any flowers that have o very porous, hairy stem, such as Gerberas absorb moisture through the outside of the stem, as well as drawing water through the bottom of the stem. These flowers should only have 3-5cm of water in the vase, otherwise they will absorb excessive amounts of water through the stem. This water will make the flowers top-heavy causing them to droop prematurely.

Ethylene

A number of flowers are sensitive to high levels of ethylene, which may cause them to drop petals, wilt prematurely, show transparent petals or fail to open. Particularly strong sources of ethylene are ripening fruit, cigarettes and car exhausts. For this reason it is recomented that you do not buy flowers from green grocers or from roadside displays on busy roads. Flowers that can be sensitive to ethylene damage include Achillea, Agapanthus, Alstroemeria, Anemone, Aquilegia, Bouvardia, Campanula, Carnation, Celosia, Cornflower, Delphinium, Freesia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Godetia, Grevillea, Iris, Lilac, Lilium, Lisianthus, Nerine, Orchid, Phlox, Physostegia, Rose, Scabosia, Snapdragon, Stephanotis, Stock, Sweet Pea, Sweet William, Trachelim, and Waratah.