About Preserving Fresh Flowers

Fresh cut flowers bring color and life to just about any space. The average flower bouquet lasts for about three days or less. If you enjoy fresh cut flowers, it is a good idea to learn some tips on preserving fresh flowers. This will allow you to enjoy the fresh cut flowers in your home or office for as long as possible.

• Placing fresh cut flowers in a refrigerator for at least six hours, immediately after they are cut, will triple their lifespan.


• As soon as anyone receives fresh cut flowers or cuts them from their own garden, they should immediately use a sharp, un-serrated knife to cut the stems on an angle.


• Never use scissors to cut the stems of a bouquet because scissors can easily crush or tear flower stems.


• After the stems are cut, the flowers should be placed immediately in a bucket of warm water to allow the water to fill up the stem and keep any air bubbles from forming in the stem.


• Adding one or two aspirin in the water of a vase and even a penny helps to increase the life span of fresh cut flowers. These two old school techniques do work.


• Flower bouquets can last for up to one week if the stems are trimmed every couple of days, the vase is cleaned and filled with fresh water.


• Any leaves that will be in the water should be removed from the arrangement because wet leaves can become slimy and gross after just a couple of days.


• If someone receives fresh cut roses they should not remove the thorns because even though the rose stems might look prettier without the thorns that will shorten their life span.


• Never place fresh flowers in direct sunlight because they will wither and die fast.


• Daffodils should always be in their own separate bouquet because their stems are toxic for other flowers.


• Roses, irises and gladiolus should be cut as buds because they will last longer in a bouquet.


• Fresh flowers should always be kept away from fruit because fruit releases gasses that cause flowers to age faster.


• Never leave flowers in a warm office or room overnight because warmth is one of the things that cause fresh cut flowers to wither faster. Always leave a bouquet of flowers in the coolest room or in a refrigerator overnight if possible.