Welcome to Wednesday’s Words! You just received a Big Beautiful Flower Arrangement - Wonderful!! Now how do we make those flowers last as long as possible? The first thing is to know that your florist has done a lot of the work already to make sure your arrangement arrives fresh. Next, check to see what container those flowers arrived in. Are they in a cellophane wrap? Then you will need to prepare them to put them in a vase. Are they already in a vase or basket? If so, they have already been prepared for you. You will need to check the water daily and add water if necessary, but there are still things you can do to have them last as long as possible.
Preparing the Flowers for a Vase
Always start with a clean vase or container. Add fresh cool water and flower food (hopefully there was a packet tucked into your bouquet). Cut your stems at a diagonal, taking about an inch off the stem and take off any wilted leaves. This will allow your flowers to “drink” as much water as possible. As you place your flowers in the vase make sure there is no foliage in the water as your water will get slimy fast. You can check the water level daily to change it and recut the stems. Make sure you keep the flowers away from direct heat. A cool place out of direct sunlight will allow your flowers to last the longest. Keep your flowers away from Fresh Fruit or Cigarette Smoke as the Ethylene gas will cause the flowers to decay quickly.
Many of us have heard the folktales or home remedies of putting an aspirin, sugar or bleach in the water. In most cases these “remedies” will harm the flowers. The packet of flower food is already balanced to give all the nutrients that the flowers will need. It’s best to use a glass or plastic container as many of the metal containers will react to the acids in the flower food causing the flowers to die.
Traditions of Cut Flowers
The tradition of bringing cut flowers into your house goes back centuries. The Cut Flower industry has been cultivating Roses, Carnations and Chrysanthemums since the 1700s when they developed Greenhouses in the Netherlands and started “forcing” the flowers inside. The art of Floral Arranging goes back to Egyptian times when flowers were styled and used for burial purposes and special ceremonies.
Seasonal Blooms
Many local farms allow you to cut your own flowers either through a CSA or cutting garden. Perhaps you have flowers growing right in your own backyard, you can still follow all the steps to fresh cut flowers and they will last just as long. The Floral Gallery in Marlborough has seasonal blooms in stock on a regular basis. You can always find a bouquet of Fresh Cuts available to bring into your home or office.
Tags: Flower Care, Local Blooms
