How to make your flowers last longer

There are several myths about how to make flowers last longer (such as putting sugar or vodka in the water!) and although some things may work, it does not happen in all cases due to the type of flowers (some are more delicate than others) or the conditions around you (if where you live is hot, or windy).

For this reason, I want to share with you a brief guide to keep your flowers radiant for a longer period of time.

1. Clean stems
Although the foliage of your flowers can be very beautiful, it is very important that you clean the stem well so that no leaf comes into contact with water, because this causes bacteria to be generated, which consume oxygen and make it start to have a bad smell and become cloudy. Another reason why it is good to remove the foliage is that all the resources of the stem (i.e. the water they absorb) go directly to the flower, instead of being divided between the flower and the foliage.

2. Bias Cutting
Once you have cleaned the foliage, the next thing to do before putting the flowers in the water is to make a bias (or cross) cut at the bottom, removing 1 to 3 cm from the bottom of the stem to open the pores where the flower will be able to absorb water. Immediately after cutting the flowers, put them in water, because these pores will only remain open for about 1 minute, and when they are exposed to air they can absorb air bubbles that cause them not to hydrate properly.

3. Changing the water
The main thing flowers need is water at room temperature and in a clean container. Generally they do not require a lot of water (in fact, in some cases, too much water can rot the stems, as in the case of calla lilies or tulips). For this reason, to keep them fresh, it is enough to fill a container 3 to 6 fingers high and change it daily or at least every three days. Regarding the cleaning of the container, just wash your vase with soap and water), making sure not to leave any soap residue.
Some people recommend adding a splash of chlorine bleach, in order to prevent bacteria from proliferating, and although it does help eliminate bacteria, you run the risk of the flower absorbing too much chlorine and also wilting. A less aggressive and sustainable option is to use a splash of vinegar.

4. Neither sun nor air
A couple of enemies of your flowers will be the sun and the air as they take away moisture and make them wilt faster. Therefore, keep your flowers in a place where they are out of direct sunlight and away from windows or drafts. Do not leave them in very hot places either; ideally they should always be in a cool place.

Another enemy of flowers are fruits, although it is very beautiful and artistic to have a fruit bowl and flowers as in a Renaissance still life, the truth is that fruits produce a gas that accelerates the ripening of flowers, so it is best not to leave them together for long periods of time.

These tips work for all flowers in general, however, the floral world is vast and the reality is that the characteristics of the habitats of each flower are different so the specific care may vary.

For example: Anemones and ranunculus like slightly cooler water.
In the case of most flowers it is best to keep the petals away from water, because it can cause them to rot, however, for hydrangeas it is best to submerge them completely upside down in water for an hour to help them hydrate better. Tulips continue to grow up to 6 inches once they are cut from the ground, and will move as they grow.

Finally, friends, we must remember that the flowers are alive and that each one will last for a different length of time. There are those that last up to 15 days, such as anthuriums, and other flowers that last only 1 day, as is the case of jasmine.

To learn more and enter this extraordinary and beautiful world, I invite you to join my Domestika course: Table Styling with Flowers

You won't regret it!
Daniel.