Whether you have cut fresh flowers from your own garden or brought some home from the store, there are some tricks that you can do to keep your bouquet looking fresh for days and even weeks. These tips should allow you and others to enjoy your flowers and keep others wondering how you got such a green thumb.

When selecting a bouquet or flowers to add to your bouquet, flower choice can make a difference in the life of your arrangement. Some flowers wilt or die faster than others once they are cut. Carnations, daisies, baby's breath, lilies, mum and roses tend to last long when they are properly cared for.

When arranging your bouquet in a flower vase, strip the leaves from the bottom of the stems. If the leaves sit in the water too long, they can cause the water to have a bad odor. If you buy a bouquet, add the powder that comes with it to the water to help extend the life of the flowers. Ask the florist for an extra packet or two of powder. Make sure that the flower arrangement gets some sunlight. If you keep it in a room that has no windows, the arrangement will not last as long. Put some flowers in that have already bloomed and some that are still in bud form so that as one flower dies another one will be in full bloom.

Change the water every 2-3 days and add new powder if you have any. Cut about ?"-1/2" off the stem of each flower. Remove any flowers as they die. This helps the arrangement to continue looking fresh. You can replace them with new flowers or greenery from your garden if there are any gaps left in the flower arrangement. If you don't have access to other flowers, move them to a smaller vase.

If you are having flowers sent to someone, ask the florist if they can recommend flowers that will last a long time. Also ask the florist if they have any recommendations on how to care for the flowers so that you can pass these tips on to the recipient.

Extending the life of your flower arrangement can be easy if you are willing to take a little time to give it some TLC. With little effort, you can keep your flower bouquet looking healthy and beautiful for an extended period of time so that you are able to enjoy it for days and weeks to come.