Cut Flower Care and Tips
Extend the life of your lovely bouquet
Most floral arrangements last between 4 to 7 days, depending on the types of flowers in the arrangement and the care that is given.
Always start with a vase that is large enough to hold your flowers. All flowers need room to breathe.
Use a sharp knife to cut the flower stems at an angle under water.
To get the longest vase life possible, keep all leaves and petals out of the water and change the water when it becomes cloudy.
Common home recipes don't work to prolong the life of your fresh flowers and can even damage them. Always use Floral Preservative that is provided by your florist.
Star Gazer, Rhubrum and Casablanca Lilies will last longer if you pull the pollen before it starts to open.
Alstroemeria is a type of lily that has a vase life up to two weeks. Always use Floral Preservative in clear tap water.
Fresh roses should be in bud form and slightly firm to the touch for the longest vase life.
For vase arrangements: Keep the vase filled with water containing floral preservative. Check often, but be sure you fill it at least once a day. If water becomes cloudy, remove flowers, dump old water, clean and sanitize vase, fill vase with new lukewarm floral preservative water, cut at least an inch off the stems with a sharp knife, (preferably under water) and place flowers back in vase. Never saw, crush, or break stems.
For arrangements with floral foam, keep container filled with floral preservative water. Check often, but be sure to water at least once a day. Never reuse floral foam. Once it has begun to dry, it will never properly absorb with water. Used foam contains bacteria from the previous decaying flowers and will shorten the life of fresh flowers dramatically.
For loose bunches or boxed flowers: Get your flowers in water with floral preservative as soon as possible. Keep flowers in a cool place until you can get this done. Clean, sanitize, and fill a vase with proper amount of floral preservative following the directions on the package. Remove leaves that would be submerged in the water. Leaves in the water promote bacterial growth and cuts the life of your flowers down. Re cut stems with a sharp knife (taking off at least an inch). Do this under water if possible; this will allow the stems to draw water instead of air. Place the flowers as you cut them directly in the vase solution.
When you first receive your arrangement, check the water level in the container. Add luke warm water to fill the container if needed. If floral foam has been used, make sure it is completely saturated and is kept that way.
Always use commercial floral preservative in your water. Not to say the home remedies don't work, but the floral preservative has been designed with the proper amount of ingredients to get the most life out of the flowers.
Display fresh flowers in a cool draft free location. (65-72 degrees Fahrenheit), away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents, directly under ceiling fans, or radiators. DO NOT put your arrangement on your television or any other appliance. They give off heat that will dehydrate your flowers.
Always use a clean sanitized container large enough to hold your flowers. All flowers need room to breathe.
Always use a clean sharp knife and cut stems at an angle and prefer under water.
Oriental lilies will last longer if you pull the pistils (the pollen pods) just as they start to open. Be careful of this long yellow pistil, for it can and will stain. If a piece of fabric does get stained, use clear tape to pick the pollen off the fabric. Do not rub the stain or try to wash it off.
Remove flowers as they die to prolong the life of the remaining flowers.
As some of your flowers die, you might want to re arrange the remaining flowers. Follow the steps above.
Do not store flowers near fresh fruit. Fruit emits ethylene gas, which is harmful to flowers.
ROSES
Care of roses are basically the same as fresh cut arrangements, except if you receive roses out of water, wrapped or in a box. Re-cut the stems under water with a sharp clean knife or shears. Place the roses in a tall container of Luke warm water with floral preservative and place in a cool draft free room for at least an hour. This will allow better hydration up the woody stem of the rose. After this process is done, you can arrange your roses in a clean vase of Luke warm floral preserved water. To take care of bent necks on the roses, fill a long sink with clean warm water. Place the entire rose, head and all in the water, re cut the stem end under water and leave it alone for approximately 10 minutes. Slowly begin to straighten the rose neck.
Let the rose rest just a little longer in the sink of water. Remove it and arrange the rose.
Some variety of roses last longer than others and some are more fragrant due to their individual structure. Roses are grown with guard pedals and help to protect them during shipping. They are the outer pedals and can be plucked off if discolored or damaged.
Follow these tips and you will enjoy the maximum longevity that can be achieved for fresh cut flowers.
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Flowers
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Ceramics
Confections
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Home
What We Offer:Flowers
Balloons
Gifts and
Ceramics
Confections
About Us
Find Us
Site Map
Contact Us
Home
Jackie Lynn's Flowers and Balloon Specialities
Flowers@JackieLynns.com
W. 407 Francis
Spokane, Washington 99205, USA
Voice: (509) 329-0332
Fax: (509) 329-0149
Toll Free: (800) 489-4407