Receiving your first bouquet of fresh flowers is such a joyful experience! Whether it was a gift from someone special or a surprise for yourself, flowers brighten up any space and bring nature's beauty indoors.
But once you have those blooms in hand, you might be wondering, “What do I do now to keep them looking their best?” Don’t worry—Let's walk you through everything you need to know to enjoy your fresh flowers for as long as possible.
1. Unwrap Your Bouquet Carefully
2. Trim the Stems
3. Remove Lower Leaves
4. Choose the Right Vase and Add Water
5. Place the Bouquet in a Suitable Location
6. Change the Water Regularly
7. Keep an Eye on Your Flowers
8. Extend Their Life with These Extra Tips
1. Unwrap Your Bouquet Carefully
As exciting as it is to have fresh flowers, the first thing you’ll want to do is unwrap them carefully. Here's what to keep in mind:
- Remove any packaging like plastic wrap, tissue paper, or ribbons, but handle the stems gently to avoid damaging them.
-Check for floral foam: If your bouquet came with floral foam at the base (a block of spongy material), you can leave it in place for a while as it retains moisture. However, if you’re transferring the flowers to a vase, you'll want to remove it.
2. Trim the Stems
Once the bouquet is unwrapped, it’s essential to give the stems a fresh cut:
- Why trim? Trimming the stems helps the flowers absorb water better by removing any blockages caused by air bubbles or dried-out stems.
- How to trim: Use sharp scissors or garden shears to cut 1-2 inches off the bottom of each stem. Be sure to cut at a 45-degree angle—this increases the surface area for water absorption.
- Re-trim every 2 days to keep your flowers fresh for longer.
3. Remove Lower Leaves
Before placing your bouquet in a vase, remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline:
- Why remove them? Leaves submerged in water will decay quickly and cause bacteria to grow, which can shorten the lifespan of your flowers.
- Simply pluck off any leaves along the lower part of the stem, leaving the top part full and vibrant.
4. Choose the Right Vase and Add Water
Choosing the right vase is important both for aesthetics and for the health of your flowers. Here’s how to pick and prepare it:
- Pick the right size: Make sure your vase is the right height and width for your flowers. You don’t want the stems to be crowded or leaning awkwardly.
- Fill the vase with water: Use room temperature water to fill about halfway up the vase.
- Add flower food: If your bouquet came with a packet of flower food, mix it into the water. Flower food provides essential nutrients and helps inhibit bacterial growth.
- If you didn’t get flower food, a homemade version can be made by adding 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to the water. This mixture will help keep the water clean and provide some nourishment.
5. Place the Bouquet in a Suitable Location
Now that your flowers are ready, where you place them in your home is key to their longevity:
- Avoid direct sunlight: While flowers need light to grow, direct sunlight can cause them to wilt faster.
- Stay away from heat sources: Keep the vase away from radiators, stoves, and other heat sources, as excessive heat can dry out the flowers.
- Cool and shady spots are best: Flowers prefer a slightly cooler environment, so placing them in a shaded area can help them last longer.
6. Change the Water Regularly
Changing the water in your vase is one of the most important things you can do to extend the life of your bouquet. Here’s how to manage it:
- Change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh. Each time you do, make sure to clean the vase and give the stems a fresh trim.
- Remove any wilted flowers as they fade, because decaying blooms can spread bacteria to the rest of the bouquet.
7. Keep an Eye on Your Flowers
Some flowers will naturally last longer than others, but there are ways to maximize their lifespan:
- Watch for signs of wilting: If some flowers start to droop or fade, remove them from the bouquet to prevent them from contaminating the rest.
- Spray with water: Misting your flowers lightly with water every day can help them stay hydrated, especially if you live in a dry climate.
8. Extend Their Life with These Extra Tips
If you’re really committed to making your flowers last, here are a few extra tricks:
- Use aspirin or soda: Crushing an aspirin or adding a small amount of clear soda to the vase water can help keep flowers perky. The aspirin acidifies the water, while the sugar in soda provides some nourishment.
Receiving a fresh flower bouquet is a lovely treat, and with just a little care, you can keep your flowers looking beautiful for as long as possible. Following these steps will ensure you get the most out of your bouquet, adding a pop of color and joy to your space. Now, all that’s left to do is find the perfect spot to display them, sit back, and enjoy the beauty they bring to your home
By taking the time to properly care for your first bouquet, you’ll feel more confident when handling future flowers—and you'll always know exactly how to keep them fresh and stunning.