How to Keep Flowers Fresh for Long

Many flowers can stay fresh for a week or more after being cut with proper care. Even short-lived flowers can stay fresh for a few days. Leaving flowers in a cool and windless place will have a significant effect. For best results, you can give flowers acid and sugar, and keep vases clean and free of bacteria and fungi by using bleach or other antibacterial agents.

Table of Contents

Cut and prepare fresh flowers

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Cut flowers at the right time. Different flowers have different ages and need to be cut at different times in their growing cycle. With flowers that have many flowers on the same stem such as canary or lilac, it is necessary to wait until at least one flower has bloomed, enough to see the inner color of the petals before being cut. ^{[1] X Research Source} Flowers with only one flower on a stem, such as marigolds or sunflowers, the best time to cut is when the flowers are fully open. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Cut flowers at a cooler time of day. Flowers will lose less water if cut on cooler days, especially during the coolest parts of the day. Cut flowers early in the morning, as early as possible, so that the flowers retain the most water and stay fresh longer. ^{[3] X Research Sources} Late Evening is another option, although doing so will prevent the flowers from receiving night dew.

Place the flowers in a clean, large vase. Note, flower pots should always be clean to minimize the risk of developing bacteria or other microorganisms, which can infect flowers. Choose a vase with a wide mouth wide enough to hold the flower stems.

Place flower stems of different lengths in different vases, so that you can easily see all the flowers.

Treat freshly cut flowers with hot water (optional). After cutting the flowers from the plant, immediately place the stems in the water at 43.5 ºC. Then, leave the vase in a cool place for 1 to 2 hours. Warm water molecules will penetrate the flower stem more quickly, while the flower loses less water in a cooler environment. The combination of these two effects will help increase the amount of water stored in flowers and branches, helping flowers stay fresh longer. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

This process is called the flower “me” process.

Keep flowers fresh for a long time

Remove all leaves that are submerged in water. Leaves submerged in water can rot, forming food for bacteria, spreading diseases that damage flowers. ^{[7] X Research Source} So cut off any branches that you find submerged in water.

Water exchange. Change the water for flowers every day to keep them fresh longer. Note, it is necessary to clean the flowerpot, remove the garbage and residue in the jar before pouring new water to minimize the risk of bacterial infection. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Even if you put flowers in the foam, you still need water to keep the foam in place. Let the styrofoam slowly sink into the water, avoid pressing the foam into the water too quickly as doing so may cause harmful air bubbles to enter the flower stalk.

Cut flower stalks regularly. You can cut off part of the flower stalks every time you change the water, or at least every few days. Use sharp scissors, scissors or a knife to bevel the flower stalk at a 45º angle. Such a bevel cut will help increase the contact area of the flower stalk with water, making it easier for the flower to absorb water. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Immediately after buying flowers, immediately cut off a part of the flower stalk before arranging.
Rose is a flower that is very easy to absorb air bubbles into the flower stalk, preventing the process of water absorption of the stem. To avoid this, cut the flower stalk in the water. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Use flower curing solution. Floral curing solution or “flower food” is available at florists, florists or supermarkets. These solutions have all the nutrients that flowers need to grow, including sugars for energy, acids to stabilize the color and pH of the water, and biocides to kill bacteria and fungi. ^{[11] X Research Source}^{[12] X Research Source} Follow the directions on the package when using.

If you don’t want to buy commercially available flower conditioners, or if you find that doesn’t work, try looking for home-made flower curing solutions that are easy to make yourself. replace.

Make your own flower maintenance solution at home

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Put some sour soda (orange, lemon) and bleach in the water. Sodas like Sprite, 7 Up, or other clear sodas can provide the sugars and acids needed to keep flowers fresh for longer. Use soda and water in a 1:3 ratio, then add a few drops of bleach to remove harmful microorganisms. ^{[15] X Research Sources} This mix can even be more effective than many flower curing solutions on the market.

Do not use diet sodas because they do not contain sugar – an essential source of energy for plants.
Do not use Coke or other dark sodas because the acidity in them may be too high, unsuitable for the plant. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Alternatively, use sugar, lemon juice, and bleach. You can use a little lemon juice, about 3 teaspoons (30ml), to 1 liter of water. Then, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, stir to provide food for the flowers. ^{[17] X Research Source} Finally, as above, add a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria and fungi.

If you’re using a small plug-in jar, simply add a few drops of lemon juice and add a few pinches of sugar to the water. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
If the water you use for flower arrangements is hard water that contains a lot of minerals, you should add a little more lemon juice to balance the mineral content. However, be careful because too much acid is not good for the plant either.
Chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and other daisies often produce a slimy/sticky base when placed in water. Therefore, if you are arranging these flowers with other flowers, it is very important to add acid to the water to prevent the stems of other flowers from being closed by the slime/sticky substances of the daisy family. and cannot absorb water. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Understand the effects of vodka. A few drops of vodka can stop flowers from producing ethylene gas, a gas that causes wilting and ripening. ^{[20] X Research Source} But vodka cannot replace bleach or other substances in killing harmful microorganisms.

Advice

If your roses are already wilting and drooping, try submerging the entire stems and flowers in warm water to try to provide more moisture. This is a last resort attempt to save the flowers and doesn’t always work. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Warning

You can use hairspray to keep the flower shape when the flowers are dry. However, this method does not apply to fresh flowers.
Daffodils or hyacinths can produce chemicals that damage other flowers when placed in the same vase. So, put these two flowers separately for at least 12 hours before putting them together with other flowers. ^{[29] X Research Sources}
Although you can remove the rose thorns from the part of the stem that is submerged in water, this will shorten the life of the flower. ^{[30] X Research Source}

Steps

Cut and prepare fresh flowers

Keep flowers fresh for a long time

Make your own flower maintenance solution at home

Advice

Warning

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