Valentine’s Day is synonymous with love, affection, and the timeless tradition of gifting flowers. Nothing is better than receiving flowers, expecting them to only last for a few days, but actually getting over 2 weeks out of them! Here is how to extend the life of your Valentine’s Day flowers to keep the love around for a bit longer.
Clean Vase
If you receive your flowers without a vase, it is important to put your flowers in a fresh clean vase. Sometimes we have vases sitting around, collecting dust. Be sure to rinse your vase with soapy water before putting your beautiful fresh bouquet inside. If your flowers are already in a vase, then you don’t have to worry. However it is important to keep the water in that vase clean. Change the water in your vase every few days and again rinse your vase with soapy water. This will eliminate any bacteria that can be lingering in the vase, causing your beautiful flowers to wilt.
Trim the Stems
After you cleaned your vase it is important to trim the bottom of your flowers every few days. This will allow your flowers to drink better so they stay hydrated. You don’t have to trim much, about an inch or a little less is fine.
Remove the Leaves
We do a good job keeping our vases free from foliage, however after changing the water a few leaves may fall in. Make sure none of the foliage is in the water because this can cause bacteria. If you have received flowers not in a vase, be sure that the stems that are below the waterline are free from foliage.
Flower Food
All of our bouquets include a packet of flower food that you can put into the water. All of our vase arrangements already have flower food in the water. If you don’t have flower food, a cool trick is to put in a cap full of bleach in the water. It does the same thing as the flower food.
Remove Any Wilting Flowers
Some flowers last longer than others. If you see any flowers in your arrangement that are starting to not look their best, feel free to take them out. The wilting flowers can contaminate the rest of your flowers, making them wilt faster. Plus, who wants to look at dead flowers?
Mist Your Flowers
Gently misting the petals with cool water can help keep them hydrated. This of course is optional and not necessary, but if you want them to last longer, spray away!
Avoid Keeping Your Flowers Near Fruit
It’s true. Keeping your flowers near fruit can cause them to wilt faster. The ethylene gas which gets released from ripening fruit can cause a shorter life span to your beautiful blooms.
It sounds like a lot of work, but by doing these simple steps you can enjoy your flowers for not days, but weeks. Flowers are meant to be enjoyed, especially on Valentine’s Day. This way, your flowers can remain fresh weeks after Valentine’s Day.
