Red Lip Society

I love fresh flowers in the home! Fresh flowers can bring a little bit of life, color, and cheer indoors year around.

my top three tips to help flowers last for weeks

Keep out of the sunlight

Resist the urge to place your flowers in a windowsill or on a table that gets direct, unfiltered sunlight.

Direct sunlight encourages and speeds up bacterial growth….and no one wants that! It can also cause your flowers to dull in color. For these same reasons, try to keep your bouquets away from heaters and other appliances. It is also best to not put them in your full-bath. The steam from your shower/bath is not good for them.

TRIM YOUR ENDS

If you want your flowers to last longer than a few days, you must trim the ends! After deciding how long I need the stems, I turn on the kitchen faucet to a lite stream then I hold the end of the stems under the water and cut at an angle with a pair of kitchen shears.

When you trim the stems it is like the stem takes a “breath” and it is better for them to breathe in water than air. An air pocket can form in the stem keeping it from absorbing fresh water. Cutting underwater reduces this risk.

While we are discussing trimming, don’t forget to trim the leaves/greenery that might fall below the water line in your vase. These will more than likely begin to rot, thus causing bacteria and the premature demise of your flowers. Personally, I cut off most of the leaves/greenery that is in the vase even if it is above the water line. I find that moisture still collects on them and it just turns into a potentially nasty situation.

use the flower food

You would probably do this anyway, but I never want to assume. The specially formulated little package is good food for the flowers. Maybe your bouquet didn’t come with a food packet. Never fear! I have you covered.

You can use a crushed aspirin, a tablespoon of bleach, or you could also make your own by mixing 2 tablespoons of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of vinegar. The sugar feeds the plant while the vinegar helps prevent bacterial growth.

BONUS TIP! – YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY

It is rare that I pay original prices for fresh flowers. My local grocery almost always has a section of flowers that are marked on “clearance”. Bouquets that are normally around $15 are marked down to $2-3.

Depending on what they have available that day, I usually grab three different bunches and can make two or three different arrangements. I like to buy different colors and types. Don’t be afraid to mix it up!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I hope these tips help you feel confident about bringing a little floral cheer into your home. Do you have any tips that might help me? Drop them in the comment section.