Essential maintenance for cut flowers to extend their lifespan

Learn how to take care of cut flowers to extend their lifespan and keep your house smelling fresh.

Whether in a vase at home or as a thoughtful present, cut flowers are one of the easiest ways to add colour, freshness, and elegance to any area. They can, however, lose their allure in a matter of days if improperly cared for. Finding out how to take care of cut flowers to extend their lifespan is crucial if you want to make sure your cut flowers stay lovely and durable.

Cut flowers: what are they?

Flowers with long stems that are produced especially to be picked and used in bouquets, decorations, and floral arrangements are known as cut flowers. To ensure longevity and beauty, these flowers are picked while they are in full bloom.

This kind of floriculture, which focusses on plants like roses, lilies, carnations, and tulips, is a significant area of the agricultural industry. From cultivation to post-harvest, the manufacturing of cut flowers necessitates particular attention, including timely harvesting and appropriate packaging to preserve the flowers' quality.

Taking good care of cut flowers

It's always a delight to get fresh flowers, but there are a few easy and efficient steps you can do to prolong their beauty and freshness. The life of cut flowers can be prolonged with the right procedures.

• Trim the stems diagonally: Trim the stems at a 45-degree angle, about 2 centimetres from the ends, before submerging the flowers in water. By doing this, the water absorption surface is increased and the stem is kept from touching the vase's bottom, which could impede water intake.

• Use fresh, clean water: Pour fresh, clean water into the vase, ideally at room temperature. Water that is too hot or cold can damage the blooms.

• To avoid the development of bacteria that could hasten the rotting process, change the water in the vase every two days.

• Eliminate submerged leaves: To stop decomposition and the growth of fungi, remove leaves that are below the water line.

• Keep flowers out of direct sunlight and heat sources: keep them out of direct sunlight, drafts, and heat-emitting devices like laptops and televisions.

• Eliminate wilted flowers: To stop ethylene, a chemical that can hasten the ageing of other flowers, from being released by wilted or damaged flowers, remove them from the arrangement.

What can be added to the water to prolong the life of the flowers?

Maintaining the water in which cut flowers are put is crucial to extending their lifespan. You can use fresh, clean water and add nutrients to help nourish the flowers and inhibit bacterial growth. A good homemade remedy is to combine two teaspoons of sugar, two teaspoons of white vinegar, and half a lemon's juice for every litre of water. While the vinegar and lemon assist keep the water's pH in check and prevent bacteria from growing, the sugar gives the blooms energy.

Where should the flowers be placed?

It is crucial to place cut flowers in areas that support their conservation if you want to extend their freshness. Steer clear of direct sunshine, drafts, and heat sources like heaters or air conditioners. Because ripe fruit releases ethylene, a chemical that can hasten the ageing of flowers, it is advised to keep them in cold, airy spaces.

Additionally, the blooms' longevity is influenced by the kind of container that is utilised. Vases made of glass, glazed ceramic, or plastic are the best options because metallic materials might react with preservatives and lower the water's quality.

How can a bunch of flowers be preserved?

When he arrives home, he uses sharp, clean pruning shears to chop off 2 to 3 cm of the stems at a 45-degree angle. By preventing the edges from falling on the pot's bottom, where absorption may be impeded, this cut expands the surface that can absorb water. Additionally, to avoid rotting and bacterial growth, remove the leaves that will be in contact with water.

Choose a pristine vase, ideally composed of glass, glazed ceramic, or plastic; steer clear of metallic materials since they might corrode and degrade the water's purity. To stop bacteria from growing, he fills the vase with fresh, filtered water and replaces it every two days. Additionally, put the pot somewhere cool.