Preventing Petal Loss: Keeping Your Fresh Flowers Alive for as Long as Possible

flowers, tulips, petal loss
We all love to receive fresh flowers whether it’s for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or just to say thank you. But some flowers are very delicate and tend not to last very long once they have been cut. How can you make the most out of your blooms before the petals fall? Here are some tips for keeping them brighter and fresher for as long as possible.
  • Put Away The Scissors: When you’re cutting your flowers to fit your vase, don’t use scissors, they will crush the stems. Use a knife and cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, removing 1 or 2 centimeters of the stem. Remove lower leaves and damaged ones. Remember, some flowers will grow up to 20 centimeters while they are in the vase. Bear this in mind when you’re placing your arrangement. Don’t overcrowd blooms.
  • Keep Them Fresh: Put the flowers in clean water, not too cold, and add the preservative. Use a clear glass vase so you can easily check the water level. Top up the water every day. Change the water as soon as it begins to get cloudy. Look to Blackwood Florist for all your fresh flower needs for any occasion.
  • Make Your Own Preservative: You can add a ¼ cup of clear soda to make your flowers last longer. Alternatively, you can add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar, a drop of bleach, or a penny to the vase water.
  • Revive Tired Flowers: If the flowers seem limp or lackluster when they arrive, you can cut up to 5 centimeters off the stem. You may also wrap them in paper and put them in a cool place for 2-3 hours to recover.
  • Don’t Mix: Never put new flowers into the same vase as older flowers. The stale water and bacteria from the older flowers can kill the fresh ones.
  • Keep Them Away From Fruit: Fruit is your flower arrangement’s biggest enemy. Fruit, such as apples, emits ethylene gas. Even if your fruit bowl is several inches from your vase of flowers, it will still cause petals to fall.
  • Tend To The Arrangement: Remove dead flowers and trim slimy stems to avoid the growth or bacteria. Trim stems under running water to prevent air bubbles in the vase later.
  • Avoid Sunlight: Don’t place fresh spring flowers in direct sunlight or their petals will fall very quickly. Also keep them away from drafts.
Sending flowers is a great way to show someone you care. It makes the recipient feels special and appreciated. It’s also a great way to let someone know you’re thinking of them even though there may be many miles between you. Gifting a flower arrangement is also a lovely way to perform a random act of kindness, which can make you feel just as good as the person you’re sending the flowers to.

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