How to Keep Cut Flowers Looking Fresh

Report This Article

How to Keep Cut Flowers Looking Fresh

Overview

Some of the best flower arrangements are from flowers you cut yourself out of your garden. Cut them correctly and take measures to preserve them immediately, and you'll ensure your cut flowers stay fresh and vibrant for as long as possible. You can place your flowers in a vase and use it to decorate your dining room table, or even the mantel above your fireplace.

Step 1

Fill a bucket with water and allow it to sit until it reaches room temperature.

Step 2

Take the bucket outside so that you can immediately place the cut flowers in water.

Step 3

Cut the flowers you want to use in your arrangement at a 45-degree angle near the base of the plant. Immediately submerge the stems in the water.

Step 4

Fill a vase 3/4 of the way with water and again allow it to reach room temperature.

Step 5

Add lemon juice, sugar and bleach to the water in the vase. These ingredients work just as well as the flower food you get from a florist and will keep your cut flowers looking fresh.

Step 6

Remove thorns--except from roses, because it tends to shorten their life--and stems that will fall below the water line in the vase from your cut flowers, then transfer them from the bucket to the vase.

Step 7

Replace the water in the vase every two days, Plantea recommends. Don't forget to add more lemon juice, sugar and bleach.

Tips and Warnings

Don't place your vase where it will be hit by direct sunlight. It will fade your flower color and keep the flowers from looking fresh.

Things You'll Need

Bucket

Water

Unserrated knife

Vase

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. bleach

References

Plantea: Flowers: Preserving Fresh Cut Flowers

I Love India: How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh

Keywords:
fresh cut flowers, preserving flowers, flower care

About this Author

Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for six years. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, Bright Hub, Associated Content and WiseGeek. Bodine is also the current cooking guru for LifeTips. She has received awards for being a top content producer.