May 1, 2015

Cut Flower Tips

It’s spring and flowers are blooming everywhere. It’s fabulous to bring them indoors to create an instant beautiful  display whose fragrance permeates your house. Following these quick tips will  help you enjoy them and have them last longer.

1. KEEP ARRANGEMENTS SIMPLE

Flowers are a quick way to brighten any space in your home but keep it simple if you do not have an eye for arranging. Selecting flowers in a single color creares powerful impact. For example, one large vase of Lilies can provide more drama than a mixed bouquet in a small container.  Balance the size of your container or vase to the height of your complete arrangement. Not only will look better, it’ll properly support the flowers. Your container should be roughly 2/3 the height of your total arrangement.

2. CUT THE STEMS &  PUT YOUR FLOWERS IN WATER

Flowers require water to survive.  Once you take them from the floral bucket, it’s important to hydrate them immediately to preserve their integrity.  Cut your stems at an angle with a sharp pair of scissors, knife or clippers. That way you’ll  provide a wider surface area for water to travel up the stem to the bloom.  Leaves or other foliage shouldn’t fall beneath the water line or they’ll create a bacterial build-up that prevents fresh water from traveling up the stem to hydrate the flowers.

3. ADD THE PACKET THAT COMES WITH YOUR BOUQUET

Adding that little packet of powder – usually sugar and a biocide – will keep your flowers fresher. Optionally, you can add an aspirin tablet that will acidify the water and keep bacteria from growing. You can also make your own solution with  2 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon household chlorine bleach per quart of water.

4. PUT YOUR ARRANGEMENT IN THE RIGHT SPOT

It’s great to have flowers in the middle of your dining table but if it’s a bright hot room, they won’t last very long. Instead, place them on an end or coffee table that’s in the center of the room and protected from direct heat and light.

5. REARRANGE AND REFRESH
Don’t forget to cut the stems, remove wilted or yellow leaves, and change the water about every two days. You can rearrange your display as flowers wilt and recutting the stem will keep them fresher longer since you’ll help water travel up to the bloom.