Five simple tips to keep cut flowers fresh: bought or cut flowers last longer

After flowers are cut from the stem, if you want them to stay ornamental for longer, you need to put them in clean water or in a cold storage room. Below are five very practical tips for keeping cut flowers fresh, which are very suitable for use at home.

Whether they are cut flowers bought from a florist or flowers picked from your own backyard garden, they can all be turned into beautiful arrangements.

There are many ways to keep cut flowers fresh for longer. The five freshness-preserving tips below are very practical, and the methods are very simple, using tools you already have at home.

1. Shopping considerations

If you buy flowers at a florist, you definitely should not buy flowers that are already fully open. It is best to buy ones that are still in bud. Of course, you should also check whether the buds are still firm; if they have gone soft, do not buy them. Gently blow on them to see whether the petals fall off. Also check whether the leaves at the bottom are withered and whether the stems have gone soft.

2. Proper pruning

For cut flowers that you have cut or bought, you should cut the bottom of the stem at an angle, at roughly 45 degrees. You should also remove all the leaves at the bottom to avoid any leaves being submerged in water, otherwise they will rot and smell, affecting how long the flowers stay fresh.

3. Add sugar in moderation

If you want to keep cut flowers fresh for longer, you can regularly add a few drops of cola, Sprite or white sugar to the water. If the vase is relatively large, add about a small spoonful. You can also use edible vinegar instead. The purpose of doing this is to increase the sugar content in the water, which helps the bottom cut end absorb water better and prevents the leaves and flowers from wilting due to lack of water.

4. The clever use of warm water

If some flowers have become wilted, you can cut the bottom end at an angle and place them in warm water, soaking them for about 30 minutes. If the flowers recover, continue to soak them in clean water. If they cannot recover, then you can only throw them away. (If they are spherical flowers, do not use this method.) The common hydrangea cannot use this method to stay fresh; it needs to be misted regularly to keep the flowers moist, and if the flowers become wilted, they should be soaked appropriately in clean water.

5. Change the water regularly

If you want to keep cut flowers fresh for longer, you must change the water regularly, generally once every one to two days, so the cut flowers stay fresh for longer. If the clean water is not changed for a long time, it easily starts to smell.

Of course, you should also pay attention to the care environment. Do not place them in a spot with light, and the ambient temperature should not be too high, otherwise the flowers will easily wilt. Also be careful not to place fruits such as apples and bananas nearby, otherwise it will speed up the flowers spoiling.