While there are many different ways to celebrate the special women in your life on Mother’s Day, sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers is one of the most popular.
However, even the most expensive bouquets will not last more than a few days without proper care.
“Flowers are one of the most loved gifts for Mother’s Day, and it’s disappointing that they don’t last longer,” says Julian de Bosdari, chief executive of UK plant nursery Ashridge.
“However, making an effort to take special care of cut flowers will allow buyers to get the best value for money and recipients to enjoy their gift for as long as possible.”
Fortunately, it is possible to guarantee that the flowers last a week or even longer. The most important thing, according to Julian, is to prevent the conditions that allow bacteria to flourish.
Even the most expensive bouquets won’t last more than a few days without proper care.
She explained: “Keeping your bouquet clean, hydrated, nourished and out of the sun will go a long way to maintaining it, and removing nasty bacteria from its environment can help prevent flowers from deteriorating prematurely.”
Julian would also like to remind fans of cut flowers that it is possible to press or dry them once they have reached the end of their shelf life.
For those put off by the fleeting nature of cut flowers, Julian recommends a houseplant or garden flowers as “an equally beautiful alternative that your loved one will be able to enjoy for many years.”
Here, Julian shares his best tips for keeping flowers looking healthy and helping them live longer…
Choose a long-lasting variety
One of the easiest ways to ensure that flowers continue to brighten the room beyond a couple of days is to choose a naturally long-lasting variety.
Chrysanthemums, carnations, and orchids are good examples of longer-lasting varieties that can last for several weeks.
By contrast, more delicate varieties, such as tulips and peonies, have a vase life of about five days and are likely to wilt much more quickly.
Since plastic vases tend to harbor bacteria due to the porous material, opt for one that is glass or ceramic.
Always start with a clean vase.
It is essential that you place your flowers in a clean vase.
Vases with narrow openings are harder to clean and are more likely to trap bacteria, which can contaminate water and cause flowers to age and decay more quickly, so look for a vase with a wide opening.
Since plastic vases tend to harbor bacteria due to the porous material, opt for one that is glass or ceramic.
In addition to being easier to clean, these types of vases will help your flowers make an even bigger impact.
Trim flower stems at an angle
Although the flowers in a bouquet have pre-cut stems, they are likely already closed when you buy them.
It is essential to cut half an inch from each stem at a 45-degree angle, using a clean knife or sharp scissors, before placing the flowers in a vase.
Cutting the stems this way increases the water absorption surface area, which helps the flowers stay hydrated.
Continue to trim the stems every couple of days to give the flowers the best possible chance to absorb water.
Remove foliage below the water line.
It is necessary to remove any leaves or petals submerged in the water from the vase, as they can promote bacterial growth.
In turn, bacteria can clog the stems, hindering water absorption and shortening the lifespan of the flowers.
Keep any healthy foliage above the water line; This will help your bouquet look full and vibrant.
You need to remove any leaves or petals submerged in water from your vase as they can promote bacterial growth.
Keep flowers away from sunlight and fruits.
Keep flowers out of direct sunlight as it may wilt. Direct sun and intense heat can also cause buds to bloom more quickly, shortening the life of the bouquet.
Instead, choose a cool environment, with plenty of indirect light for your flowers.
It is also important to keep flowers away from the fruit bowl, as ripe fruits, such as bananas and apples, produce an odorless gas called ethylene, which causes flowers to age and drop petals more quickly.
Change the water in the vase regularly.
Make sure the water in your vase is clean and change it frequently to eliminate bacteria. While this can usually be done every other day, it is worth doing daily for more delicate flowers.
If the water in the vase is visibly cloudy, it’s time to change the water.
Use nutritious flower food
Be sure to immediately add the packet of liquid flower food that came with your bouquet to the water in the vase.
By adding more flower food each time you change the water, you can increase the life of the bouquet.
If you can’t get the right flower food, don’t worry.
It is easy to prepare a homemade solution by adding two tablespoons of sugar and two tablespoons of white vinegar to a liter of warm water.
Cutting off wilted foliage makes room for new buds to bloom, resulting in a thriving bouquet that is even larger and more beautiful.
If you buy a packet of granulated sugar (£1.09) and distilled white vinegar (35p) from Tesco, it won’t cost you more than 5p to feed your flowers every time you replace the water in the vase.
While sugar provides energy to nourish the flowers, white vinegar lowers the pH of the water, which improves water absorption and helps eliminate bacteria thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
Check your flowers frequently and handle them with care.
By regularly checking your flowers and removing wilted petals, you can ensure your bouquet stays healthy while preventing the spread of bacteria in the vase water.
Cutting off wilted foliage also makes room for new buds to bloom, resulting in a thriving bouquet that is even larger and more beautiful.
Although some varieties of flowers are very long-lasting, be careful when handling your bouquet. Avoid crushing or squeezing the stems, as this could cut off the plant’s water absorption.
The petals are particularly delicate – treat them with care to avoid damage and keep them looking their best.