Cut Flowers Still Need Fresh Water and Good Food

Copyright (c) 2010 Nadine Davis

A vase of fresh, vibrant cut flowers will give an instant lift to any room. What some people don't know when they buy their flowers from Florist Brisbane, is that by simply taking the bouquet home and dropping it in any available vase, will shorten the life of the flowers by several days. There are a number of things that need to be done, both initially, and during the life cycle of the flowers, that will extend their showing time.

Immediate attention:

> Keep the flowers cool, especially if it is inconvenient to arrange them in a vase when they are first brought home. Remove all the packaging and place the flowers in a small amount of cold water.

> Rinse the vase thoroughly in clean water. Although it may have been thoroughly cleaned after you used it last, the majority of homes are not free from dust and the habitation of dirt, mould or cleaning detergents will make the flowers die faster.

Preparation for display:

> With the stems in the water, take a sharp knife or scissors and cut diagonally across the bottom of the stems, about two to three centimetres from the end. A 45 degree cut creates a larger stem surface area and keeping the stems immersed prevents air from entering them. Both of these steps allow the flowers to take in more water.

> Fill the vase with warm water to three-quarters full, and stir in the flower food that came with the bouquet. If there is no flower flood, crush two plain, uncoated aspirin and stir this in instead.

> Remove any excess leaves from the stems that are under the waterline, as bacteria will grow in the water when the leaves die. Place the bouquet gently into the vase, arranging the items to suit.

Care and attention:

> Place the flowers in a position where they will have exposure to light, but not direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will make the flowers wilt and stimulate the speedy growth of bacteria in the water. A room temperature of 18 to 22 degrees Celsius is ideal.

> Place them away from heat sources such as radiators, televisions, computers and some appliances. They should also not be placed in a draft or directly under a ceiling fan or air conditioning unit.

> The flowers will age quickly if exposed to a gas called ethylene. Ripening fruit emits this gas, as does cigarette smoke.

> Immediately remove leaves or petals that fall into the water, and change the water completely every second day. Every third or fourth day, the stems should be re-trimmed and the petals lightly sprayed with fresh water.

These simple measures will preserve the beauty of Flowers well past a couple of days, and ensure that the money spent on them will continue to bring pleasure to the observer for as long as possible.

More information

Did you know that the quality of the water where you place your Flowers Brisbane means the difference between longer life and quick death? Your Florist Brisbane Flowers on Oxford can tell you about flower food, the effect on the flowers of bacteria in the water, and the best place to display them so they thrive.