February 06, 2008
Making the Most of Fresh Flowers
In just a week or so, fresh flowers will appear in offices and homes across the country as people celebrate Valentine’s Day. But every year, I have friends who complain that their flowers just didn’t last long enough.
While you can’t control the freshness of the flowers you receive, you can do your part to ensure they last as long as possible.
Let’s talk about roses in particular. By following some simple steps, you should be able to enjoy fresh roses for a week or so.
If your roses arrive in a box or as a bouquet not in water, you should first cut at least one to two inches off the stem while holding the stem under water. Then arrange the flowers in a clean vase that you have filled with warm water and floral preservative.
Most packages of preservative should be dissolved in one cup of water. Be sure to read the label and follow the directions. Use warm water. It speeds up the flower's ability to absorb the water and preservative.
When you arrange the flowers, be sure and strip off any foliage that would be below the water line.
Check water levels daily and add fresh water and preservative as needed. Some indicate that completely changing the water every few days and recutting the stems will also help blooms last longer.
Place the vase in a location away drafts and hot spots such as heating vents and television sets.
Following these steps should help you enjoy that Valentine’s day bouquet for a longer time.