We all want our flowers to last as long as possible, especially after you’ve spent time crafting a beautiful floral arrangement! There are a lot of tips out there for keeping your flowers healthy and looking their best, but after decades working in floristry, there are some things we’ve picked up which every budding hobby florist needs to know.
Pick the best flowers
The flowers you pick to start with can determine how long your arrangement will survive. All flowers have different characteristics that demonstrate freshness, so knowing what to look for and choosing wisely is the best way to ensure your flowers thrive for as long as possible.
What we do want:
- Green flower stems and vivid foliage, with no yellowing or slimy leaves present
- Stiff but supple stems – this means the material is well hydrated
- When flowers or buds are present, make sure the majority of blooms are still closed
- Any open buds should be bright and fresh in appearance
- Buds with colour present
- Flower petals should be bright, vivid colours and veins should not be visible
- Undamaged stems and bunches
What we don’t want:
- Petals that are transparent or have visible veins (often this indicates that the flowers have been cold stored for too long, which could result in the blooms failing to open, or that the flowers are dry)
- Tight buds without colour as this often means that the blooms were cut prematurely
- Damaged bunches or stems (holes or tears in leaves shorten their vase life and can attract bacteria)
Caring for your flowers
If you’ve bought your flowers from a market or a local florist, they might be wrapped in plastic. As soon as you can, remove the plastic to create a clear path of airflow to the stems and stop any condensation in the plastic, which could lead to bacteria growth. Once you’ve got your flowers ready, the next steps to follow are:
- Remove any foliage or leaves from the stems that will sit below the waterline. This keeps water fresh, minimises bacteria production, and will keep the stems clean and clear.
- Remove any broken or damaged flowers or leaves, lowering the potential for bruising or bacteria.
- Clean your vase with soapy water and dry it before filling it with water to remove bacteria
- Use sharp snips to cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, about 2-4 cm up the stem to help water flow through the stem
Maintaining your flowers
The best way to preserve healthy flowers is always to maintain fresh water in a clean vase and re-cut the stems every couple of days to enable a continuous flow of water up the stems. Make sure to remove any wilting or dead flowers and use clean water.
The positioning of flowers is also important, as draughty and breezy areas (including air-conditioners) will dehydrate flowers, significantly reducing their lifespan. It is also important to keep flowers out of direct sunlight and prevent exposure to fireplaces and heaters (including air vents and outlets). Make sure you remove spent blooms and yellowing leaves to keep the remaining flowers looking fresh and beautiful.