1. Choose the right type of container.
Always provide the flowers with a clean vase with no residue or detergent residue. Lighter, more fragile cut flowers belong in a taller vase. Cut off heavy blooms and place them in a low vase where they will have extra room to spread out.
2. Cut two inches off the flower stems before placing them in the water.
Garden shears will give you the cleanest cut, but regular scissors will also do the trick. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle to increase surface area and allow more water flow. Some flowers, such as roses, tend to trap air bubbles in their stems, blocking the flow of water. to avoid this problem, cut the flower stems under water.
3. Make sure the water is at the right temperature.
Most flowers are best preserved in water at room temperature. Bulb flowers are best kept in cool or even cold water. Whether you use cold or lukewarm water, fill your vase three-quarters full and keep topping it up as the flowers absorb more liquid.
4. Provide acidic water.
Cut flowers do best in slightly acidic water, ideally with a pH level between 3.5 and 5.0.
5. Prune any leaves below the waterline.
Any leaves that sink under water can rot and cause bacterial growth, so it's important to check your flowers regularly and remove any submerged leaves.
6. Maintain your flowers consistently.
Replace the dirty jar water with fresh water and clean your jar every day. Dirty water can lead to bacterial growth that will quickly cause wilting. Re-cut your flower stems every two to three days to help them absorb water.
7. Keep cut flowers away from harsh environments.
Avoid placing your fresh flowers in direct sunlight, near hot appliances or near drafts from fans, air conditioning or open windows. Some flowers, such as tulips, are particularly sensitive to heat. You should also keep cut flowers away from fresh fruit, as they give off traces of ethylene gas that can speed up the wilting process of a flower.
8. Care for your flowers with a packet of flower food.
Our florist and supermarkets sell prepackaged mixes of all the essential preservatives that help cut flowers last. These flower food packets contain a balanced mixture of sugar to feed the flowers, acidifiers to control the pH of the water and a biocide to kill harmful bacteria.
9. Make your own flower food.
Instead of buying flower food packets, you can make your own DIY formula. The most popular recipe is to fill your jar with three parts water, one part Sprite (for sugar) and a few drops of bleach to kill bacteria. Another common flower recipe is to mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of bleach in a quart jar of water.
10. Slow down wilting with a few drops of vodka.
Giving your cut flowers some alcohol can actually slow down their aging process. The alcohol in vodka prevents the flowers from producing ethylene gas, which causes the flowers to wilt.
11. Separate the noxious flowers into their own container.
Fresh hyacinths, irises, and daffodils produce toxic chemicals that can kill other plants that share the same water source. Keep these flowers in a separate container for a day before combining them with other types of flowers.