Cut your flowers in the morning before the sun comes up, or in the early evening after it sets. The sun closes the pores of the blossoms, preventing the stems from absorbing water properly. Be sure to use a sharp knife or shears to avoid bruising stem tissues and leaving ragged edges. Cut steins at an angle. This will provide the stem with a broader surface for absorbing water.
Place your cuttings carefully, in a flat flower basket, and avoid crowding the blossoms. Plunge into ice cold water up to the flower head as quickly as possible. This will harden them. If necessary, make several trips to and from the flower bed. Long stems and small buds will add to the beauty of the arrangement.
Material Preparation Around one third of the foliage should be removed from the stem. Remove all top buds which tend to make the stem heavy. Gladioli for example, have small florets at the top which, if they do not open, will weigh down the other blossoms by contrasting unpleasantly with the lighter effect of the latter.
Bleeding stems Dahlias, Poppies, Hollyhocks, Poinsettias. A milky or glue like substance runs from the stems of these flowers when cut. To stop this action, hold the cut end of the stem over the flame of a candle until it is sealed. This should take about twelve seconds. Another method is dipping the stem tips into boiling water for a couple of minutes, being very careful to protect the flowers from the steam. After this is done, plunge them directly into ice water. Poppies and dahlias react most favorably to the latter method.
Woody Stems Rhododendron, Chrysanthemums, Lilacs. Place the stems of the preceding on a hard surface and hammer them lightly; bruising the stems so that they may absorb water more readily.
Stock, Roses. Scrape a small portion of the stems of these flowers with a sharp knife; placing them quickly in cold water almost to the flower heads.
Other Flowers Iris, Daffodils, Calla lilies, Tulips. The stems of these flowers may be cut straight across. Since evaporation occurs quickly, it is suggested that you wrap the entire units in newspaper. Place them in water and put them in a dark place over night before arranging.
What to Avoid Do not keep flowers out of water for any length of time. Flowers should not be left in direct sunlight. It fades them. Keep fingers off blossoms whenever possible. The heat of our hands is injurious to them. Dead and wilting flowers ruin the appearance of the arrangement. Remove them. Avoid over crowding in the vase. Heat and drafts shorten flower life. Do not pile flowers on top of one another. Quick changes in temperature are inadvisable.
Hints on Prolonging the Lives of Flowers - Change water regularly. (Every day, if possible.) Remove all foliage from below the water line. Snip a small bit of the stems off diagonally, before placing them into the arrangement. This will retard bacteria growth. Fresh water will keep your flowers garden crisp. Sprinkle your rose arrangements daily. Flowers enjoy ice cold water. A few drops of vinegar will help retard bacteria growth. Too much is harmful. A chemical flower prolonger may be used. These are available at the flower shops. Spray gardenias with a little fresh water, and then cover with a moist piece of cleansing tissue until ready for use. This will prolong freshness. Sometimes partially wilted lilacs may be rejuvenated by wrapping in moist newspaper and placing in water to be stored in a dark spot overnight. You may keep camellias from turning brown by putting a few grains of salt in the center of each flower. Prolong the lives of water lilies by pumping alcohol into the stems and placing them in cold water for several hours.
A floral offering can represent friendship, love, thanks, good luck and condolences or even just convey that someone else is thinking of you. Flowers can actually say so much through their bright colors, beauty and scent without actually being able to utter a single word. Fresh cut flowers in all their bright variations can bring so much pleasure and joy. Knowing how to take good care of your flowers can help to preserve them for an extended period of time.
Read on for tips on how to help your fresh cut flowers stay fresh and beautiful for as long as possible.
Fresh Cut Flowers in a Vase
Firstly, it is recommended to cut the ends of the flower stems while under water. It is preferable to cut the stems on the slant, leaving more surface area to draw up water to the flower.
Do place your flowers into a vase of water quickly. For longer lasting flowers, it is best to use lukewarm rather than cold water. It is also advisable to remove any leaves that will be under water in the vase.
Use food packet for the flowers that is provided by the florist. If the fresh cut flowers were not delivered by a florist or you do not have a special flower food packet, there are other additions to the water that can be used. Popular alternatives that have been known to be successful are sugar, a small amount of bleach or aspirin, either on its own or together with a penny.
You could also give your flowers a treat by placing lemonade into the water. This should help to give them fresh for a bit longer.
It is recommended to replace water in the vase every two days.
Where to Place Your Fresh Cut Flowers
Flowers in a vase should be kept away from direct sources of heat such as radiators, oven, strong lights, etc. It is also wise to put your vase in a location away from heat giving appliances, such as a television set.
It is important to keep flowers out of the direct sunlight (well you would get hot and wilt too sitting in the sun for the whole day!)
It may be surprising to note, but fruit and flowers do not go together very well. They may look attractive but the fruit, especially bananas, will unfortunately cause the flowers to have a shorter life span.
Please note that draughts and cigarette smoke will not be beneficial to the life of your fresh cut flowers.
Taking care of your fresh cut flowers is the ultimate way to enhance one's enjoyment of the floral display and to prolong the lifespan of the flowers. Managing to preserve your flowers for as long as possible will help to maintain the feelings and emotions that they represent and inspire.
Both Jimmy Cox & Gaizka Pujana are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jimmy Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Horse Racing and Investments. Discover How To Create The Most Stunning Flower Arrangement Ever!Click here for FREE online ebook!