Wondering how to keep your flowers fresh longer?

Here's your guide to longer-lasting fresh flowers

You know the wonderful thrill of receiving or giving flowers as a gift — and you want to know how to make flowers last longer, and make sure they stay beautiful and have a long vase life. Follow these six top flower care tips to help keep your flowers alive longer.

1. Remove the protective wrapping over a sink as soon as your fresh flowers arrive. Keep your fresh flowers away from drafts and extreme temperatures, which can quickly dry out the flowers and cause wilting.

2. Remove any leaves and foliage that fall below the water line to prevent bacteria from forming in the water and shortening the life of the bouquet.

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.

3. Give each stem a fresh cut at a 45 degree diagonal with sharp scissors, snips or knife. If you use a dull blade to trim your flowers, you could smash and damage the tissue at the end of the stem, where it soaks in the water.

Remove at least 1/2 inch at the end of the stems before you put them in a vase — and each time you change the water. Keep the stems on the longer side with the first cut, because you’ll need to trim them every few days.
 

4. Immediately place the bouquet in a clean vase with fresh, room-temperature water, adding the flower food provided in your delivery.

Make sure you completely dissolve the food before you add the flowers by stirring to mix. Using lukewarm water can help. If you skip this step, you risk clumps of flower food clogging the bottom of your stems and preventing the flowers from properly hydrating.

Allow the flowers to hydrate after their delivery for 1-2 hours before arranging.

5. Keep your fresh flowers away from direct sunlight and heat, windows, and even fruit.

People may think they should set their flower arrangement in a sunny spot since that is where a plant would tend to thrive. But fresh, cut flowers are actually the opposite of potted plants. They are already at their peak of perfection. Instead, keep your fresh flowers in a cool spot away from sunlight, so they last as long as possible.

Keep your floral arrangement away from appliances like the stove or television that emit high temperatures, and avoid places that have a lot of airflow, like the air conditioner vent or a ceiling fan. ⁠Airflow increases evaporation and dries out the flowers, and heat sources make them bloom and fade much more quickly.⁠

You also want to keep your fresh flowers away from ripening fruits or vegetables because they emit a gas called ethylene which can cause cut flowers to age more rapidly — making them more susceptible to wilting and withering before their time.

6. Give the flower stems a fresh cut, clean the vase and change the water every 2-3 days for best results. Remember, flowers drink a lot of water and they may have traveled far! It is not uncommon for a large flower arrangement to suck up all the water in a vase within the first day or two you have it at home.

ENJOY!

PRO TIP: Be sure to wash the vase/container very thoroughly in hot soapy water or, better yet, in your dishwasher once you no longer have your arrangement. Bacteria builds up in vases and does not go away when the vase dries out. Once you add water again, the vase could be full of bacteria and affect a new bouquet. Give your flowers a clean environment free of bacteria and they will last longer.

ADDED BONUS: Rearrange your bouquet to spread the joy. You’ll be amazed how many arrangements you can get out of a single bouquet. Grab a few, small vases and break up your bouquet into smaller floral arrangements so you can enjoy them in several spots throughout your home. Place an arrangement on your nightstand or in your bathroom, and experience stress-relieving benefits as you start and finish your day. You can even take one into your office!

• Shop online for fresh flower delivery:

  • Amazon

  • Target

  • Sam's Club

• Find farm-fresh flowers at a store near you