Flower Power

Fresh flower can brighten up every space and corner. With Valentine day around the corner beautiful flowers are seen just about everywhere….and a little bit of TLC will keep the bloom lasting for a long time

(from Indiangifts portal)

Here are some simple steps and tips to keep the arrangement fresh for longer time

Clean vase. First of all, you need to make sure that you always place your new flowers in vases that have been cleaned thoroughly. One of the biggest reasons why flowers wilt fast is because bacteria and decomposition are damaging the flowers quickly.

(From Travelpod)

Remove all of the leaves from the portion of the stems that will be in the water. Keeping leaves out of the water will keep dirt and bacteria out of the water, which in turn helps keep the flowers fresh. Do not remove thorns from roses as it tends to shorten their life.

Flowers keep best when cut with a sharp knife (un-serrated) and plunged immediately into water. Always make a cut on a slant (about 45 degree) , as it exposes more stem surface area.

(From Linghome)

Place the flowers in the vase immediately after cutting.

Keep the floral foam soaked in water containing floral food provided by your florist. Be sure to water (small quantity)  every other day. My rose arrangement in the foam lasts for about 8-9 days !

(From Melrosefields )

Set the flowers in a cool place for at least two to three hours. Placing the flowers in warm water and a cool space will "harden" them or allow them to draw in a significant amount of water, keeping them fresh.

Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, and move them to a cool place at night.

Keep cut flowers away from fruit, which releases a gas that causes flowers to age faster.

Appliances such as televisions and radiators give off heat, causing the fresh cut flowers to quickly dehydrate.

(From 4.BP.Blogspot.com )

Clean the water and re-cut the stems every two or three days. Dump all of the water out, refill the vase and cut the stems again. Changing the water and cutting the stems regularly will help keep the flowers hydrated and extend their life

Some other ways to extend the life of fresh flowers:  Put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your flowers. Other household items that you can put in the water to extend the life of your flower arrangements include: a multivitamin, a teaspoon of sugar, a pinch of salt and baking soda.

(From Apartmenttherapy.com )