Tips on Making Fresh Flowers Last

by Emily Harrison
Published April 28, 2010 | Updated July 27, 2015

Everyone loves fresh flowers. They look fantastic anywhere in your home or office, and the clean floral scent they provide is always a welcome addition. Unfortunately, sometimes freshly-cut bouquets wilt more quickly than you would like. This guide will show you how to maximize the life and vibrancy of your fresh flowers; just a little extra care can make all the difference.

Make Fresh Flowers Last:

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• Get Your Flower Vase Ready

  When you first receive your flowers, clean a vase with hot, soapy water to ensure there is no bacteria or fungi lurking, as either will cut short the life of your blooms. Rinsing the vase will also get rid of any dust or debris that may be harmful to your flowers.

• Prepare the Stems

  Clean the stems by removing foliage that will fall below the waterline. Submerged leaves rot and promote bacterial growth, damaging your flowers and decreasing their life. After cleaning a stem, place the end in a bowl of clean water and cut it diagonally one to two inches from the bottom. Cutting the stems in water allows for immediate absorption, and ensures that air is not drawn into them. Use a sharp knife or floral cutter to avoid smashing the stems, which would inhibit water absorption. Also, make sure you don't cut the stems too short, as you will need to recut them every few days to keep your flowers hydrated and healthy.

• Place Your Flowers in the Vase

  Fill your clean vase with fresh, lukewarm water and flower food, if it was included with your flowers. If your flowers came with floral foam, the waterline should be somewhat high. Then place your flowers into the vase. Different types of flowers do better with higher or lower water levels (check this guide about rose bouquets for rose-specific guidelines), but a good general rule to follow is to keep the water at one to two inches from the rim of the vase.

• Follow Up

  Place your flowers in a cool location; if you put the flowers in direct sunlight or next to a heat source, they will dehydrate quickly. Check your flowers daily and keep the vase filled with fresh water. If the water becomes cloudy, change it immediately. Otherwise, plan on changing the water, adding more flower food, and recutting the stems every few days. If flowers go limp, they are not getting enough water and should be recut. Remove flowers as they wilt to help the bouquet look its best and to help prevent the others flowers from wilting.