How to Keep a Flower Bouquet Fresh for a Long Time: Tips and Recommendations

Any cut flowers are short-lived. If you want your bouquet to delight you and a loved one longer than just a couple of days, consider giving a bunch of dried flowers. Another great option are bulb flowers — daffodils, hyacinths, tulips. Plant them in a small pot with soil ahead of time.

If you are the lucky owner of a bouquet of freshly cut flowers, here are some general tips:

1. Change the water more frequently;
2. Trim the stems;
3. Periodically remove wilted petals and leaves.

What other nuances there are and how to care for each flower so that the bouquet remains beautiful for a long time, read on.

1. Tulips

Wash the vase and pour a small amount of ice-cold water onto the bottom. Carefully trim the tulip stems on a cutting board. Note that the knife must be sharp. Place the bouquet in the vase. Ensure each stem slightly touches the water. Check the water level daily: the edges of the stems should be just submerged in it. Top up with ice-cold water as needed.

2. Hyacinths

These spring flowers have thicker stems than tulips, which makes them more prone to rotting. Therefore, the rules remain the same: clean vase, ice-cold water at the bottom, straight cut like a bulb, add water every day.

If you feel the stems have softened, refresh the cut. For this, buy hyacinths with the longest stems possible. By the way, these plants look great even with roots! The bulbs can be planted when the ground warms up, on a country estate.

3. Daffodils

It is better not to mix these flowers with others in a bouquet. Cut stems release a toxic sap into the water, which is harmful to other plants. That’s why bouquets with daffodils wilt quickly. Give daffodils as bunches simply for fun. In a vase, they will last long if you change the water more often and trim the stems.

Interesting fact

Cut flowers do not like to be near fruits. Do not place vases with flowers and fruits next to each other, even if it looks beautiful together on the table. The reason is that many fruits emit ethylene gas into the atmosphere, which causes fresh flowers to wilt quickly. This applies to bananas, pears, peaches, and apples. And somehow also tomatoes.

4. Hydrangeas

These flowers love water, so it's best to bathe them in a tub more often. Submerge the plants in water for six hours or even overnight. Otherwise, they will wilt by the next day. Like daffodils, hydrangeas don’t play well with other flowers.

5. Roses

It is not recommended, contrary to popular belief, to submerge these in water. Instead, gather a sharp secateur and trim the stem at an acute angle before placing it in a vase. Renew the cut daily.

Interesting fact

To make a bouquet last longer, pour a shot of vodka, vinegar, potassium permanganate solution, or drop an aspirin tablet into the water. This will clean the water. But it’s better to add special fertilizers for cut flowers.

6. Alstroemerias

The stems of these flowers, like roses, should be cut diagonally with a sharp knife. This type of trimming is recommended for all plants with hard stems: matthiolas, lisianthus, eustomas.

Recommendations for peonies, ranunculuses, and orchids are here