How to Properly Cut Flower Stems to Extend Your Vase Life

Have you ever wondered how some people keep their bouquets fresh and colorful for days on end? The truth is that it doesn’t take a lot of work to keep cut flowers alert and healthy. All you need are a few tools and some dedication to reach the average cut flower’s life of 7 to 12 days.

So how do you get the maximum life out of your cut flowers? This quick guide will show you the basics about keeping your bouquets fresh and healthy for as long as possible.

Start With a Clean Vase

Arrangements stay the freshest in a clean vase. If you order a new vase with flower delivery, then you shouldn’t have to worry about this detail. But if you buy raw flowers from a market or flower farm, you need to make sure that the vase you put your flowers in is free of harmful bacteria. Make a 1:10 mixture of bleach and water and scrub the interior of the vase, then rinse it. Now it’s ready for some water and your bouquet.

Condition Your Flowers

The process of conditioning flowers refers to preparing the stems and water for the vase. If you bought flowers from a florist, they should be conditioned already. But if you need to cut flowers yourself, you should follow these steps. Since you will need to recondition your flowers periodically, it’s important to have a pruner, a clean vase, water, and some plant food before your flowers arrive.

Here are four steps to conditioning your flowers:

• 1. Make sure you have a clean vase at home or that you ordered a vase for your flower delivery.
• 2. Fill the vase with water and flower food. Professional bouquets usually come with flower food attached. If you don’t have flower food, then get a quart of water and add a teaspoon of sugar, a couple of drops of bleach, and two aspirins.
• 3. Remove any leaves that will be under the waterline because they make the water murky.
• 4. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle. This ensures that they absorb the most water. For the best results, cut the stems underwater and with a sharp cutter like a Fiskars forged pruner.

Once the flowers are in the water, arrange them neatly and place them in a location with indirect sunlight. Full sun can scorch the petals and make the water evaporate faster.

Refresh the Water Regularly

Flowers are always thirsty, so make sure that the water level doesn’t get too low. The proper water height should cover all the stem ends. Change the water every five days and recut the stems at a 45-degree angle. Be sure to replace the water with more of the same plant food so that the blooms continue to thrive. If necessary, wash the vase again.

At all costs, don’t let the water become murky. When vase water starts to smell, it has developed harmful bacteria that reduce the life of the flowers. This eventually causes them to wilt and die prematurely.

Get Flower Care Supplies and More

Getting caught with a dull blade or lack of plant food can shorten the life of your treasured cut flowers. To get the maximum life out of your arrangements, invest in the right tools and accessories. At Plantshed, we have everything from misters to succulent plant food to keep all types of blooms fresh and vibrant.