9 Ways On How You Can Make Cut Flowers Last Longer

It is no secret that most homeowners have an obsession of fresh flowers. It’s one of the things that will never miss in any beautiful home, even if it is just a single bloom among the foliage people use in dressing their dining room tables. You will always take a smile each and every time you walk into your house and find a pretty flower arrangement at the center and in front. It will encourage you to ensure you keep the surrounding tidy and neat as well. Over the years, we have been picking tricks and tips here and there on how we can make flowers last longer. After close consultations with my workmates and friends, we found it great to share some of the best pro tips on how one can make flowers last longer. However, we first had to get the kinds of flowers, which are right.

Types of Flowers Right for You

There are two options for you when it comes to flowers. You can choose to grow them in your home compound, or buy the fresh packed flowers. However, before you think of growing them ensure your compound soil can support their growth. Aesthetic preferences will play a great part in selecting the type of flowers you will have to grow. However, before you start picking the prettiest flower, you need to consider the following:

The Growing Space

All flowers prefer a fertile, well-drained soil. Most flowers are always in need of full sun though there are some that are shade tolerant while other prefers shade. In case you are planning to grow flowers on a shady spot, ensure you only go for the shade tolerant varieties.

Size and Shape of Plant

The flowers you choose to grow should fit the size available to them. Never try locking yourself into the same flowers or flowers of the same size. When you are grouping the flowers in clumps of either three or five, you should always consider growing the flower plants of different shape and height next to each other to achieve a more interesting look. As a common multilayer beds and gardens rule, the taller flowers should be grown behind the shorter flowers.

Flower Color

S0me flower will always come in different colors. If you are indeed interested in the appearance, size and shape but the color is not right, try checking if you can get the same flower in a different color.

• Consider Starting from Seed or Transplanting Pre-grown Flowers
• Though transplanting is easier and always produces instant gratification of immediate blooms in your garden after planting, there are certain drawbacks, which come with it.
• Most of the flower varieties are available in seed form.
• The satisfaction of doing all these by you from a flower seed can never be matched.

Disease and Insect Resistance

In case you are aware of a certain flower disease or pest that is common in the area or have previously caused lots of problems, try going for flowers which are naturally resistant to such pests and diseases. Try keeping your flowers healthy by proper soil maintenance, proper watering, and weeding and preventive pest control measures.

There are 2 options for you; Perennial or Annual flowers. Planting either perennials or annuals is your final decision. Here are benefits that come with each of them:

Perennial

• Requires less water.
• Have very few pest problems since the plants are stronger.
• They are less expensive to maintain since you don’t have to buy new plants every year.
• They are able to live much longer.

Annual flowers

• The flower blooms remain for much longer.

Flower Garden Designs

It is a great idea to first draw your flower garden design on a piece of paper before you start. This will ensure you have a map of planting time and will also remind you on the exact period.

Plant Hardiness

The plant hardiness is used in categorizing of the cold tolerance of the annual flowers into any of the three categories below. You need to consider the hardiness of your flowers before you decide on the planting times.

• Hardy- Is able to tolerate the light frosts after hardening off without it being badly damaged or killed.
• Half- Hardy- These flowers are able to tolerate the wet, cold and damp weather though frost damages them.
• Tender- These flowers are always in need of the warm soils to germinate and be able to grow properly.

The issues, however, don’t end after growing or buying flowers. Another big frustration is how long will the flowers last. Will you have to replace them after one day or will wither after some few hours. Luckily, there are some clever tricks you can use to prolong the life of flowers. The best thing is that they are simple and the requirements are readily available.

Use of Soda

Try not to throw the last drops of soda! Pour ¼ of soda into some water in a vase full of flowers. Soda contains sugar, which will be essential in making the flowers blossoms last longer. If you are interested in a clear vase and interested in having the water remain clear, always use clear soda like 7-up or Sprite.

Use Hair Spray

Hair Sprays are known to preserve one’s hairstyle. Just as it successfully preserves the hairstyle is the same way it can help your cut flowers have a fresher look for long. Give the bouquets a quick spray on the undersides of the petals and leaves.

Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Definitely, anyone would like to keep the cut flowers have a fresh look for as long as possible. There are several better methods you can always use to achieve this. One common method is mixing of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of sugar with vase water before you can add your cut flowers. Ensure you frequently change the water after few days to ensure you enhance the longevity of your flowers.

Using Vodka

One of the top secrets of keeping cut flowers healthy for a longer duration of time is to ensure you minimize the growth of bacteria inside the water. This way you provide nourishment that will replace what the flower was receiving before. Vase the water for antibacterial action by adding a few drops of vodka together with one teaspoon of sugar. Ensure you change the water on a daily basis and refreshing the sugar and vodka each time.

Using Aspirin

Using aspirin to keep your cut flowers for long is a true and effective method for keeping your cut flowers fresh for a longer duration of time. Crush some aspirin and put it in water before you place your cut flowers. Ensure you change the vase water after every few days.

Bleach

The cut flowers are able to last longer if you add ¼ teaspoon of bleach per one liter of vase water. Three drops of bleach and one teaspoon of sugar in one liter of water is another popular recipe. This will ensure the water is free from getting cloudy and restrict bacterial growth.

Using Coins

Try adding a copper penny and a cube of sugar to the vase water before placing your cut flowers. The cut flowers will last for a longer period. The copper found in coins will act like an acidifier, which is capable of preventing bacterial growth.

Using Sugar

You can also come up with your own preservative to help keep the cut flowers fresh for a longer period of time. Dissolve two tablespoons of white vinegar and three tablespoons of sugar in warm water. Make sure the three to four inches of the water cover the stems fully, whenever you are filling the vase. The vinegar will be responsible for inhibiting bacterial growth while the sugar nourishes the plants.

Cut and Re-cut the Stem Ends

You need to ensure your cut flowers soak up most water. You can always achieve this by frequently cutting the ends of stems. Ensure you frequently trim them on a daily basis whenever you change the vase water. Whenever the flower is out of the water, the stem will always dry up after some few seconds, so you will always have to re-cut it before taking it back into the water.

Use sharp scissors to ensure you get the best cut and always cut the bottom most part of the stems at an angle and not at a straight cross. This will provide more surface area to the stem, which will enable the flower to better access, the water. It is also a great idea to cut the stems under the water and not in the air as this will prevent your flowers an air embolism, which easily interfere with their ease of sucking in water.

Today, any home will definitely have a flower either grown or cut flower. It is essential in beautifying your house and homestead especially when you have a special event like a party or a wedding. It will take you some weeks to plant a flower; therefore, most homeowners prefer buying cut flowers in case they aren’t able to grow their flowers. However, the biggest challenge they encounter is how they can keep the flowers fresh for a longer period of time. It is a big bumper when your cut flowers start wilting and dropping after a few days. The pro tips listed above will help you keep your cut flowers fresh for a longer period of time.