14 Ways To Help Flowers Last Longer

I love flowers. I love how flowers make you feel loved, appreciated and special, how they commemorate a special event or day, how they smell great and how they have a way of brightening up your home.

While I love receiving them, I have always told my husband that I’d rather he not buy them for me because spending money on something that will only last a few days just doesn’t sit well with me. However, I wouldn’t mind him spending the money on flowers if they lasted more than a couple of days. That got me thinking about ways to help flowers last longer (like what we do for our Christmas tree).

Here are 14 Ways To Help Flowers Last Longer:

• Remove all the excess foliage from the lower portion of the stems.

• Cut the flower stems at an angle with a sharp knife (not scissors) and underwater if possible.  By cutting them at an angle, it allows the flowers to take in water better.

• Place flowers in lukewarm water as soon as possible.

• Clean your vase before you put flowers in it (but be sure to remove all of the soap).

• Don’t fill the vase with water past the leaves left on the stem because if you do, those stems will rot and make the water nasty which will cause the flowers to die sooner

• Keep your vase filled with flowers away from fruit (because they release ethylene gas, which causes wilting)

• Cool Temps: Keep your flowers  in the cooler spots of your home and out of direct sunlight (but don’t put them under a draft or fan)

Consider adding one the following:

• Aspirin: Put a crushed aspirin in the water before adding your freshly cut flowers.

• Bleach: Add 1/4 tsp. of bleach per quart of water.

• Soda: Pour about 1/4 cup of soda into the water inside your vase filled with cut flowers. The sugar in the soda helps make the blossoms last longer.

• Apple Cider Vinegar & Sugar: Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar with the vase water before you add the cut flowers.

• Penny: Add a copper penny and some sugar to your vase water.  Instead of sugar, you can try adding a crushed aspirin instead.

• Hairspray: Spray the flowers with hairspray. Aim for the bottom part of the petals and leaves and briefly spray the flowers.

**For all of these, be sure to change the water (with the special ingredient) every couple of days to help your flowers last longer.