How to Keep Your Flowers Fresh
Prolong the life of your fresh cut flowers with these tips!
You visited Island Roots Flower Farm and created your own gorgeous bouquet, now how do you keep your flowers as fresh for as long as possible?
We have some tips for you so you can enjoy your flowers for up to 12 days*.
*Some varieties of cut flowers only last 5-7 days with proper care.*
1. Keep flowers out of direct sunlight
Once you bring your bouquet home, we know it's tempting to place it right on a sunny windowsill. However, to extend the life of your flowers, opt for a place with indirect sunlight. The perfect spot is cool and shady.
If you really want to extend the life of your bouquet, you can even pop it in the fridge overnight and take them out in the morning.
2. Ensure greenery and foliage stays out of the water
For the best results, ensure you remove any leaves on the lower stems of your flowers before placing them in your jar. If you notice any foliage below the water line in your jar, be sure to remove them to prevent bacterial growth.
3. Change the water every 2-3 days
Fresh flowers love fresh water! To increase the life of your cut flowers, ensure you change the water every couple of days. When replacing the water, make sure you use cool water. If you notice your jar is dirty, it's best to give it a good clean with soap and water.
4. Recut flower stems on a 45 degree angle
While you change the water, give your flower stems a small trim. Try to trim them on a 45 degree angle. Trimming them regularly helps them re-absorb water better and keeps the stems clean. Aim to trim about 1 centimeter.
5. Make your own flower food
It's incredibly easy to make your own flower food at home, and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen!
To make your own flower food, combine the following in your vase with cool water:
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, lime juice, or apple cider vinegar
There are many DIY flower food recipes online, but this one is our favourite for it's simplicity and ease. Mix up some more flower food whenever you change the water.
6. Keep your flowers away from ripening produce
Did you know ripening produce submits traces of ethylene gas? This can speed up the wilting of your flowers. In the same room is fine, but avoid placing your bouquet right beside your fruit bowl for prolonged periods of time!
7. Remove faded blooms
We know it's sad to say goodbye to a beautiful flower, but it's best to remove faded blooms from your jar. However, you don't have to chuck it in the compost just yet.
If you catch the blooms before they're totally spent, you can press them or dry them to preserve them for even longer! Skin-friendly flowers like calendula can also be used in body lotions or creams if you pluck them out of your jar before they start to rot.
When you have one or two blooms left, we recommend moving your flowers to a smaller vase for better support and aesthetics.
Often times, we find that our sunflowers stay fresh the longest. We love to re-arrange them in a simple jar with just one stem. If you have 2 or more sunflowers left, you could easily make 2 or more little arrangements. With just a little effort, something old can become new again!
We hope you enjoyed these tips and that they'll keep your cut flowers bright and fresh. When you're all out of fresh flowers, come back out to visit us at Island Roots Flower Farm.
We have a Jar Return Loyalty Program where you can save $2 every time you bring back your same 24 oz. jar. We hope to see you soon!