How to Keep Your Flowers Fresher for Longer: A Blooming Guide

There’s nothing quite like a fresh bouquet brightening up your space—until the petals start drooping and the water turns murky. But with the right care, you can keep your flowers looking vibrant for days, or even weeks! Whether you’re preserving a romantic gift or simply want to enjoy nature’s beauty for longer, here are some tried-and-true tricks to extend the life of your blooms.

1. Start with Clean Tools

Before you even place your flowers in a vase, make sure everything is clean! Bacteria can shorten the lifespan of your bouquet, so wash your vase thoroughly with warm, soapy water to remove any residue from previous arrangements.

2. Trim the Stems

Using sharp scissors or garden shears, cut each stem at a 45-degree angle. This allows flowers to absorb more water and prevents the ends from sitting flat against the vase bottom, which can lead to wilting. Re-trim the stems every few days to keep the water flowing.

3. Choose the Right Water Temperature

Room-temperature water is ideal for most flowers, but some blooms—like tulips—prefer colder water. Fill the vase with fresh, clean water and avoid using softened water, which contains salts that can be harmful to flowers.

4. Remove Excess Foliage

Leaves submerged in water tend to rot quickly, encouraging bacterial growth. Strip away any extra foliage before placing the stems in the vase, keeping only the leaves above the waterline.

5. Feed Your Flowers

Flowers need nutrients to stay fresh! Try adding one of these homemade flower food recipes to your vase if you don't have any of the flower food supplied by Simply Blooms:

• Sugar & Vinegar: 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar per liter of water help nourish flowers and prevent bacteria.

• Aspirin: A crushed aspirin tablet in the water can extend the life of roses.

• Lemon & Bleach: A teaspoon of lemon juice and a few drops of bleach help maintain freshness.

6. Keep Them Cool

Heat accelerates wilting, so place flowers away from direct sunlight, radiators, and appliances that give off heat. If possible, store them in a cool place overnight—some people even place their flowers in the fridge!

7. Change Water Regularly

Swap out the water every two days to prevent bacterial buildup. When refilling the vase, rinse it thoroughly even a splash of bleach to prevent bacteria and add fresh water and flower food to keep your blooms perky.

8. Avoid Ethylene Gas

Fruits, especially apples and bananas, release ethylene gas, which speeds up flower aging. Keep bouquets away from fruit bowls to slow down the wilting process.

10. Revive Wilted Blooms

If your flowers start to droop, try submerging them in warm water for 30 minutes. For roses, you can dip the stems in boiling water for a few seconds to remove air bubbles blocking water absorption.

By following these simple steps, you can enjoy your floral arrangements for much longer and get the most out of every bouquet. Treat your flowers with care, and they’ll reward you with beauty!

Do you have any favorite flower-preserving tricks? Let me know! 🌸