How to prepare your flowers for the vase
- Cut the stems: Before you put those roses in water, trim 1-2 inches off the end of each steam. Garden shears are best for this task, but kitchen scissors or a sharp, clean knife will also do. Cut at an angle which allows the stems to take in water more easily since they aren’t resting flat against the bottom of the vase. Experts suggest you retrim your blooms every few days.
- Prune extra leaves: It’s important to remove any leaves that will fall below the water line to prevent bacterial growth. Check your flowers daily to remove dead leaves and petals. This is especially important in mixed bouquets which have multiple types of flowers that may have different blooming times.
- Pick the best vase: This may seem obvious to some people, but it really does make a difference. Just because the florist hands you a bunch of peonies on long stems doesn’t mean they should be put in a tall vase. Bigger, heavier blooms should be cut short and put in a low vase where they can support each other when they open, or have room to spread out, while lighter, more delicate flowers can be kept in a taller vase. Make sure you are not crowding the vase either; when in doubt you can always make two bouquets out of one.
- Change the water every few days: Start with a clean vase and fill it with room temperature water. When you add ingredients to the water, make sure they are completely mixed and dissolved before you place the flowers. Change the water and clean the vase every few days (you can re-trim the stems whenever you change the water).
- Avoid these flower foes: Flowers will last longer in a cooler room and if you keep them out of direct sunlight. Avoid placing them near appliances that generate high or low temperatures like the stove, air conditioner, ceiling fans and even your computer or TV. Open windows will also cause them to dehydrate more quickly, and keep them away from fresh fruit which releases tiny amounts of gas that can cut the lifespan of your blossoms.
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How to make your flowers last longer with additives
- Flower food packet: The pre-mixed flower food that comes in the little packet when you buy flowers is universally agreed to be the best overall method for keeping flowers alive. It works because it’s the perfect mix of the three essential things flowers need; carbohydrates (sugars), biocides (cleansing agents) and acidifiers. These three ingredients promote cell metabolism, combat bacteria and adjust the pH of water to increase water uptake. Experts recommend adding a new packet to your vase whenever you change the water, but if you run out of packets, try this recipe for homemade flower food: 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon bleach, 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice mixed into 1 quart of water.
- Refrigerator: Although you might not expect it given that we’re told to keep the flowers away from cold spots, experts and testers unanimously agree that this method will keep your buds fresher for longer, if you remember to do it every night.
- Soda: Maybe you didn’t know your hydrangeas had a sweet tooth? Mix a ¼ cup of soda into the water and watch how your blooms stay perky with a sugary beverage, just like a kid with a can of Sprite. In fact, that’s the type of soda experts recommend, since a colored drink will turn the water cloudy.
- Vodka: Happy hour for your flowers is officially a real thing; add a few drops of vodka to your vase water to keep those posies partying for days. What you’re actually doing here is slowing the wilting of your blooms through the alcohol’s ability to decrease ethylene production, the ripening gas that makes plants mature.
- Aspirin: Keep your daisies from drooping by crushing an aspirin tablet and mixing it into your water. The common pain-reliever can lower the pH level in the water, which helps it travel through the stem faster to keep your flowers fresher, longer.
- Bleach: If bleach fights bacteria on floors and countertops, it only makes sense that it will kill the nasties in your vase water too. This method may be the trickiest since too much bleach is bad for your blossoms. Experts suggest just a ¼ teaspoon of bleach for 1 liter of water and adding a bit of soda or vinegar for an acidic element which will help the water flow through your flowers.
- Coins: The copper in coins, especially pennies, has acidic properties which also fight bacteria growing in your water and on your flowers. Just one penny on the bottom of the vase will help your tulips open up, but some testers do suggest you add a crushed aspirin to lower pH levels and increase water flow.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and sugar (plus a little bleach): The jury’s still out on this one (sorry mom), but the idea here is that you’re mimicking the flower food, with the sugar for nutrients and the vinegar to acidify the water. The most common recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and ½ teaspoon bleach for a quart vase. And if this method doesn’t work for your flowers, there are lots of other things you can do with a little ACV.
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Check out our guide to the best flower delivery services
Now that you know how to keep fresh-cut flowers alive as long as possible, you’re ready to order some blooms. We’ve done a lot of research and testing to choose the best online flower delivery services.
If you want farm-fresh flowers that are sustainably harvested from well-regarded farms, The Bouqs Co. is our absolute favorite. However, if you want extras like teddy bears and chocolates, 1-800-Flowers and Florists’ Transworld Delivery have the best options.
Here are the best online flower delivery services we’ve tried:
- Best flower delivery service overall: The Bouqs Co.
- Best flower delivery service for add-ons: 1-800-Flowers
- Best flower delivery service for classic bouquets: Florists’ Transworld Delivery
- Best flower delivery service with live plants: UrbanStems
