Why we can’t answer “How long will those flowers last?”, and how to increase the life of your flowers

A common question we are asked here at Grande Flowers is “how long will those flowers last?”. Unfortunately, an honest answer is not the answer customers want to hear. Many different factors affect the life of cut flowers. The same cut flowers may last longer in my home than in your home, or vice versa. Here are some deciding factors that affect the life of cut flowers.

1. Temperature in your home. An ideal temperature for most cut flowers (except tropicals) is right above freezing (33 degrees Fahrenheit). Flowers stored in a flower shop cooler should be right around 35 degrees to maintain their freshness. To make your flowers last longer, keep your heat on low, or at least make sure the flowers are not sitting hear a heat vent or humid bathroom.

2. Proximity to sunlight source. Many people think that flowers need sunlight, so they will put their cut flowers on a windowsill or even outside on a porch. The truth is sunlight and heat are the worst things for cut flowers. Only live potted plants need sunlight. To make your cut flowers last longer, keep them away from sunlight or a heat source.

3. General maintenance. Many steps can be taken to prolong the life of your cut flowers. If your flowers arrive in a vase, the most important thing is making sure your vase has clean water. Bacteria in the water clog the stems and prevent them from drawing up the water. Grande Flowers delivers all vased arrangements with treated water, which keeps it clean and minimizes bacteria growth. After about a week, the water may start to look cloudy, and at this point, you will want to empty out all of the water and replace it with clean tap water. The more often you change the water, the fewer bacteria will grow, and the longer your flowers will last.

If your flowers arrive wrapped instead of already in a vase, the most important thing to do is to cut at least an inch off the bottom of the stem, IMMEDIATELY before you drop them into the vase. This is so important because the bottom of the stem is where the flower takes up most of its water, and when it hits air, the bottom of the stem will close up. Re-cutting the stem opens up the stem and allows it to take up the water. *Bulb flowers are the exception to this rule. Do not cut the stems of tulips, daffodils and hyacinth.