5 Tips to Refresh Your Cut Flowers
Do you feel disappointed when your freshly cut flowers start to wilt? Don’t toss them just yet—there’s hope to bring them back to life!
Updated Post
Valentine’s Day
I’m not sure who gets more excited about receiving cut flowers—me or Browser! He absolutely loves seeing the delivery girl. 😊
Browser always looks forward to a visit from Carrie (our daughter), and it’s no surprise since she often spoils him with treats like peanut butter and whipped cream. Let’s just say he’s living the good life! 🐾💕
Back to the Flowers
Today, I want to share some easy tips to help keep your cut flowers looking their best. There’s nothing like the beauty of a fresh bouquet when it first arrives, and with a little care, we can make that beauty last as long as possible!
Cut Flower Tips
- Fresh Water: Check the water level daily and add more as needed. Be sure to change the water every 2–3 days.
- Cloudy Water: If the water turns cloudy, remove the flowers and wash the vase with hot, soapy water before refilling it with clean water. Wash the flower stems too and make fresh cuts.
- Downsize the Vase: If your flowers are starting to fade, rinse off the stems and switch to a smaller vase. Make a fresh 1″ cut at the ends, but avoid pounding them.
- Flower Food: Consider using commercial flower food packets to nourish your bouquet and help it last longer.
- Cool Display: Keep your flowers in a cool area, away from heating vents or direct sunlight. For an extra boost, store them in the refrigerator overnight.
With these simple steps, your cut flowers can stay fresh and beautiful for days! 🌸
Remove any leaves that are below the water level as they decay and promote bacterial growth.
We’ve all heard the wild suggestions for keeping cut flowers looking their best—everything from a copper penny to crushed aspirin, 7-Up, sugar, bleach, vinegar, vodka, and even Viagra! Yes, Viagra. Not sure who came up with that one, but I guess it’s supposed to help tulips stand tall? Honestly, who knows! 😂
Additives for Cut Flowers
I searched for specific research articles but only came across experiments done by florists and bloggers. The general consensus? Copper pennies don’t do anything to help your flowers, but fresh-cut blooms definitely benefit from proper food to keep them vibrant and lasting longer.
The general consensus to me was that using commercial flower food is the best option for keeping your blooms fresh and vibrant. Pair that with placing your flowers in the refrigerator at night, and you’ll help them last even longer! Simple but effective! 🌸
Now, if you’re like me, there’s no way a cut flower bouquet is going to fit in the fridge at our house. We do have an extra fridge in the garage, and occasionally there might be space for an arrangement, but realistically, I’m not going to put it away at night and retrieve it in the morning. Looks like it’s time for me to go shopping for flower food instead! 🌸
I also came across some recipes for homemade flower food, usually made with vinegar, sugar, and a bit of bleach. The measurements varied quite a bit, though, and since I haven’t tried making any myself, I think my best bet is to stick with buying commercial flower food for next time! 😊
The fresh eucalyptus will likely be the longest-lasting part of my flowers—it’s so sturdy and fragrant! This morning, another lily bud popped open, which always feels like a little surprise gift. 🌸 And I absolutely love the hydrangeas! I can’t wait until mine start blooming this spring.
Wrapping it Up
Don’t get discouraged when your cut flowers start to droop! Take a moment to see if there’s anything you can do to revive them—check or change the water, trim the ends, or downsize to a smaller vase. Discard the flowers that are spent and keep rearranging into smaller vases until the very last bloom is gone. And if all that’s left is the greenery, don’t be afraid to pop in an artificial stem for a little color. It’s all about making your bouquet last as long as possible! 🌸
