How to Extend the Life of Your Fresh Flowers

At Hope Blooms there is an entire process of how we prep, create, and design our bouquets to have the longest and freshest life possible. As you may know, we receive flowers that have already been used at a variety of events or locations, and when they reach us, the flowers are not freshly cut or sometimes not at their best. Our goal is to repurpose them in a way that creates beautiful bouquets to be enjoyed by those who need a little extra joy and emotional healing in their life. We want our repurposed bouquets to be enjoyed by these individuals for as long as possible. Extending the life of fresh flowers should be no secret, and there are many ways you can extend the life of your own flowers. 

Here are some simple steps to keep your flowers fresh!

1. Start with a clean vase.

Having a clean vase for your flowers to set in is extremely important. Before you begin arranging flowers in your vase, be sure to clean it with hot water and dish soap. To further help eliminate harmful bacteria, consider cleaning your vase with some bleach or white vinegar. When picking out a vase, you must also be aware of the size, as you do not want to over crowd the vase with too many flowers. Once you have selected the appropriately sized vase and it is clean, you can start adding water!

2. Add cold water and flower food to your vase.

At Hope Blooms we use flower food to give nutrients to our bouquets. You will often find a package of this flower food in the bouquets you get from a flower shop or at the grocery store. If you are arranging with flowers from your own garden, or the bouquet does not come with a package of flower food, there are a few household items that can provide the same nutrients for your bouquet. Try adding a teaspoon or two of bleach and sugar to the water in your vase. The flower food or sugar and bleach help to feed the flowers and keep the water in the vase clean, overall extending the life of the flowers. Now that there is a good base for the flowers to set in, you can start arranging!

3. Remove foliage and cut the flower stems.

It is important when you are adding flowers to the vase that you remove any foliage or leaves that may be below the water line. When leaves or other foliage sit in the water for extended periods of time, they help create bacteria and algae that is harmful to the flower’s life. After this step, it is best to cut all stems at a 45-degree angle to set in the vase. Without this trim, the flower stems sit directly on the bottom of the vase, causing a lack of water intake. With the angled cut, flowers have optimal surface area for water and nutrient intake. Add the foliage free and trimmed 45-degree angled flower directly to the water filled vase. 

4. Enjoy your flower bouquet!

Finally, your flower bouquet is ready to be enjoyed! At this point, it is also suggested that you change the water and cut the stems again at a 45-degree angle every few days. Keep an eye on how the flowers are doing, and simply care for them as needed. Lastly, be sure to take in all the beauty and benefits fresh flowers have to offer!