Fresh cut flowers are a wonderful way to brighten up a room and enjoy the beauty of nature indoors. Just as with flowers that grow outdoors, though, fresh cut flowers do have a limited lifespan. With the right kind of care, however, you can enjoy your fresh flowers for longer than you might think—sometimes a week or more. Just follow these four tips:
- Water Fresh Flowers Daily. Cut flowers depend entirely on you for water, and they do need a lot of it. Do not allow the water line to fall below any of the cut stems. Change the water every couple of days to clean, fresh water if possible.
- Use Floral Preservatives. Your florist will use water that has a special preservative added toextend the life of your flowers. As you add and change water, however, this solution becomes diluted. Ask your florist about packages of preservative you can add to your flowers at home.
- Provide Light. Most flowers do best when they have access to natural sunlight. Do take care, however, not to place your flowers directly in a window, as it can become too hot. A location with filtered light is usually best.
- Be Mindful of Temperature. Avoid placing fresh flowers in close proximity to heat-generating devices, such as your television, or near a heating vent. Flowers prefer cooler temperatures and do best in locations that stay between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Finally, if you must remove your flowers from water for any reason, be sure to cut the stem at an angle, about half an inch to an inch above the bottom of the stem, immediately before returning them to water. This will remove any air bubbles that may prevent the flower from taking up water.
At Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we want you to be totally satisfied with your fresh flowers. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to place your order or to learn more helpful advice about caring for your flowers. We also offer unique gift ideas and gift baskets, so contact us today.