How to Keep a Flower Bouquet Fresh

Receiving a flower bouquet is something that will instantly brighten up your day. You can also elevate the interior design of a space by adding a carefully created floral arrangement that complements the colour and the theme of the space. But fresh flowers don’t last forever so you need to understand how to make the most of it. 

There are many reasons that you can send a floral arrangement to a person. For example, if you are sending it to somebody to let them know you are thinking of them when they are sick, it is nice to think that the arrangement will stay in the recipient’s home for a long time bringing them joy. For such a reason, you can select a florist that provides same day flower delivery services. You can also ask them about flower varieties that can last longer when compared to others. You can create a floral arrangement out of the flowers you have in your garden as well but you will not be able to predict how long they will last after they are cut unless you have some experience. Some of the flowers that are popular for their long lasting properties after being cut as orchids, carnations, zinnias etc. The florist will be able to give you more choices depending on what is available. There are also flowers that will not last very long when they are cut and put in a vase such as sunflowers and dahlias.          

When you are creating your own floral arrangement, there are floral preservatives that you can purchase. This is something that you can add to the water inside the vase so that it helps the blooms stay some time longer. In most cases, you will be able to double the lifespan of the cut flowers so that you can enjoy the floral arrangement for longer. The preservative is there to kill any fungi or bacteria that can negatively affect the flowers. It also provides a source of nutrition to the flowers especially when they are kept away from sunlight. The preservative will ensure that the same pH is maintained as that of the plant sap so that there is no drastic difference in conditions for the cut flowers. There is a natural ageing process of the flowers that can be slowed down by respiratory inhibitors.

There are recipes that will help you create a preservative solution in your own home but it will be easier and more effective to find a preservative in your local craft store or from the local florist. They can recommend what to use with different flowers as they will have sufficient experience in the field. A popular tip for long lasting flower arrangements is removing foliage. While you may think that removing the leaves that are submerged in the water is not necessary, these can actually create an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms to thrive affecting the lifespan of the flowers. You also need to make sure that the water in the vase is removed and replaced every other day. The floral preservative has to be added each time you change the water.