Fresh flowers are synonymous with joyful occasions such as a birthday, a wedding or simply treating yourself. Unfortunately, it must be recognized that cut flowers do not last forever. It is therefore not uncommon for its leaves to wilt after only 3 or 4 days.
To enjoy the flowers you receive or buy to beautify your home for longer, you must follow a few simple rules.
Flowers don’t last long in the vase. Myth or reality ?
Disinfect your Vase
Although many of you believe that florists have a secret to keeping cut flowers fresh as long as possible, this is not true. All you need is a little water, a clean vase and various preservatives available in specialist stores as noted by Luca Amaury, Florist in Paris. Note that these are not strictly necessary.
If we have all these elements, all that remains is to take care of the flowers in the vase, since this is one of the most important steps. Vases should be disinfected at least twice a week, thus avoiding the formation of harmful bacteria that attack the flower stem, stopping the absorption of water and nutrients.
Buy Fresh Flowers
Another important point in keeping the flowers you buy fresh is to buy them live, freshly grown and germinated. They should look healthy and well hydrated. Once you get home with the flowers, prepare a vase of clean water to keep them in.
Cut the Stems
The next step is to cut 2 to 4 cm obliquely from the stem of the flowers just before placing them in the vase. This helps eliminate air absorbed by the rod as you move them. If you don’t remove it, it blocks the stem, preventing water from reaching the flower and causing flowers to wilt prematurely, even if they are fresh.
Pay Attention to the Amount of Water
For the Gerbera, for example, which has a soft stem, you have to put a little water in the vase, because the part that reaches the water rots. Conversely, for roses, hydrangeas and other woody flowers, it is advisable to add more water, even going up to the first row of leaves.
Change the Water Often
The water in the vase should be cold and changed as often as possible. At some florists, for example, the water is changed twice a day. At home, once is enough.
Keep them Cool
Flowers like freshness. It is obvious that the temperature in the house must be optimal for those who live there, not just for the plants . But even if it is hot at home, you can keep them in a shaded, slightly cool place, away from any heat source.
Flowers should be placed in a bright room, avoiding direct sunlight. The ambient temperature also plays an important role: in a colder climate, the flowers are better preserved.
Remove the Packaging
Before placing the flowers in the vase, the packaging must be removed. Ideally, the wire with which they are tied should be loose, as flowers do not like to be held tight for too long.
Ventilate the Room
The room should be ventilated every day so that the flowers stay fresh as long as possible. Also avoid smoking or cooking near flowers! This means that the kitchen is not the ideal place for the vase you put the flowers in. Do not use sprays or other chemicals in the presence of flowers!
