How Do You Make Cut Flowers Last Longer?

Cut flowers last longest when they go into a clean vase with freshly trimmed stems, commercial flower food and cool room temperatures, and when the water is changed every few days. Penn State Extension says a bouquet cared for this way can last one to two weeks, and sometimes longer, depending on the varieties in the vase.

The popular kitchen tricks do not hold up. Iowa State University Extension advises against adding aspirin, bleach, lemon-lime soda, mouthwash, rusty nails, pennies, lemon juice, vinegar or sugar to the water, and states that none of them work as well as a floral preservative and that some may even shorten vase life. Its guidance for anyone without a flower food packet is to skip the additives, because clean water alone is the second-best option. This post walks through what to do in the first ten minutes, how flower food works, where to put the vase, and which flowers hold up longest.

What is vase life, and how long should a bouquet last? 

Vase life is the number of days a cut flower stays attractive in water after it is harvested. It varies by flower type, by how fresh the stems were at purchase, and by how they are handled at home.

Penn State Extension puts the typical range for a well-kept bouquet at one to two weeks. That range covers a mixed bunch, so expect some stems to fade before others. Pulling out the spent flowers and rearranging what is left keeps the bouquet looking good for the full stretch.

What should you do in the first ten minutes? 

The work that matters most happens before the flowers ever sit on the table. Four steps cover it.

Wash the vase. Iowa State University Extension recommends hot, soapy water to remove debris and destroy the bacteria and fungi that shorten flower life. Penn State Extension adds an optional disinfecting rinse of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water, followed by a thorough rinse with clean water. 

Strip the lower leaves. Remove every leaf that would sit below the water line. Penn State Extension notes that submerged foliage rots quickly, turns the water cloudy and smelly, and shortens the life of the flowers. 

Recut the stems. Iowa State recommends cutting off the bottom half inch to one inch of each stem with a sharp knife and placing the flowers in water immediately. It notes that scissors are more likely to crush the end of the stem, which can block water uptake. Penn State suggests cutting at an angle and, if possible, underwater.

Mix the flower food. Stir the packet into the amount of water listed on it, then arrange the flowers.

Does flower food really work? 

Yes. Penn State Extension explains that commercial floral preservatives contain ingredients that acidify the water, provide carbohydrates for the flowers and deter bacterial growth, and that they work better than any homemade concoction.

Measuring matters. Penn State advises using the amount of water specified on the packet, usually a pint or a quart. A packet stirred into a vase twice that size is half as strong as intended.

Flower food is also not a one-time step. Iowa State University Extension notes that more preservative is needed each time the water is replaced, so it is worth asking the florist for an extra packet or two.

Do aspirin, pennies or sugar help flowers last? 

No, according to the extension horticulturists who have written about it. Iowa State University Extension lists sugar, aspirin, tea, pennies, rusty nails, bleach, mouthwash and citric acid among the ingredients that do not work as well as a floral preservative, and warns that some of them can shorten the vase life of cut flowers.

University of Illinois Extension explains why. A floral preservative combines an acidifier, a bactericide and sugars. A penny or an aspirin tablet contains none or very little of those ingredients.

Sugar on its own does only one of the three jobs. It feeds the flowers without acidifying the water or holding bacteria back, which is why real flower food pairs sugar with an acidifier and a bactericide.

Where should you put the vase? 

Put the vase somewhere cool and bright, out of direct sun. Penn State Extension recommends keeping arrangements away from heat sources such as vents, fireplaces and appliances. University of Illinois Extension adds cold drafts from open doors and windows to the list of things that shorten vase life.

Temperature does a lot of the work. Iowa State University Extension states that keeping blooms as cool as possible without freezing extends their vase life, and that a refrigerator works well for short-term storage of many cut flowers. Penn State suggests moving a bouquet to a cool room, or even the refrigerator, overnight or whenever it is not on display.

Keep the vase away from the fruit bowl too. A University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources horticulture newsletter explains that ripening fruit gives off ethylene, a plant hormone, and that keeping flowers away from ethylene is a key to maintaining vase life. A bouquet parked next to ripening bananas or apples on the kitchen counter is working against itself.

How often should you change the water?

Check the water level every day and top it up. Iowa State University Extension calls regular water changes one of the most effective ways to prolong vase life, and says to change the water completely if it turns cloudy or begins to smell.

Penn State Extension recommends a full change every few days, with three steps each time:

• Rinse the stems.
• Recut the ends.
• Refill with fresh water and a new dose of flower food.

That routine gives the flowers clean water and a fresh surface to drink through.

Which flowers last longest in a vase?

Penn State Extension names chrysanthemums, carnations, alstroemeria, sunflowers and zinnias as flowers noted for long vase life. Lisianthus belongs in the same conversation. Roots to Petals notes on its lisianthus listing that the stems last two weeks or more in the vase with proper care, because the buds keep maturing and opening over time. 

When a long display matters, such as a gift for someone in the hospital or flowers for a week of house guests, tell the florist. The shop's guide to choosing a bouquet from a Pittsburgh flower shop covers other questions worth asking. 

Starting with fresh stems helps too. Iowa State's first tip is to choose flowers that are just coming into bloom and to buy from a quality florist. The shop's post on why locally grown flowers make a difference explains the freshness side of buying local.

FAQ

Should you cut flower stems at an angle? 

Penn State Extension recommends recutting stems at an angle to create a fresh surface for absorbing water. Iowa State University Extension puts more weight on the tool, recommending a sharp knife because scissors can crush the stem.

Should a bouquet sit in a sunny window?

No. Penn State Extension says arrangements last much longer in a cool spot out of direct sunlight. Iowa State University Extension recommends a cool, brightly lit location, so aim for a bright room without sun falling on the vase.

Does putting flowers in the fridge overnight help?

Yes. Iowa State University Extension says a refrigerator works well for short-term storage of many cut flowers, and Penn State Extension suggests it for overnight. Keep the bouquet away from fruit stored in the same refrigerator.

What can you use if you run out of flower food?

Use plain, clean water and change it often. Iowa State University Extension states that clean water without additives is second best after a floral preservative. A florist or garden center can sell extra packets.

Why did one flower in the bouquet die before the others?

Different flowers have different vase lives. Remove the faded stem, since decaying plant material clouds the water for everything else in the vase. 

Do hand-wrapped bouquets need different care than arrangements in a vase?

The steps are the same once a wrapped bouquet is home: clean vase, leaves stripped below the water line, stems recut, flower food mixed in. An arrangement that arrives in a vase skips the first steps but still needs its water checked daily.

Fresh, Garden-Style Flowers From Roots to Petals in Oakmont

Roots to Petals is an independent, woman-owned florist at 527 Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont that designs garden-style bouquets and arrangements with locally grown flowers in season. From spring to fall, the shop sources blooms from local growers, including its own flowers, as much as possible. Its Flower Club subscription bouquets feature blooms selected for long vase life, and the everyday bouquets and arrangements are available for pickup or delivery. For more on the shop's style, see its guide to choosing a garden-style bouquet.

Visit Roots to Petals or call 412-822-6023 today. Contact us for more information.