Extending Your Vase Life

It's our most frequently asked question; "how long will my flowers last". It's also my least favourite question because it's really difficult for us know how well you will take care of your flowers, and under what circumstances they'll be in once they leave my hands. What I can tell you is that we do everything in our power to make sure that when you get your flowers, you are set up to have the longest vase life possible.

There are a lot of factors which contribute to how long your flowers will last. Some of them are out of our control; for example, typically the hotter it is outside the shorter your flowers will last. It doesn't matter if they are picked at the perfect time and put directly into a cool environment. At this time of year our flowers always tend to last a day or two less than the exact same flowers in September. It's also important to note that some flowers just last longer than others. You should always expect Lisianthus to outlive Sweet Peas. And that is just because of the nature of the plant itself. I think it's important to note that I believe one of the special things about flowers is that they don't last forever. Their fleeting beauty is a reminder to enjoy the now, and it's important to enjoy the beauty of flowers even if they only last a few days.

Flowers you receive from a florist or grocery have often been treated which can extend vase life. We don't do that here. We do however have a few tips for adjusting the things you can control to keep your flowers fresh longer.

Always re-cut the stems before you put your flowers in fresh water. This re-opens the stem to allow the flowers to soak up water. Cutting at an angle prevents the stem from sticking to the bottom of your vase(if they stick to the vase, they may not be able to soak up water), but is not necessary for flower vase-life.

Unless you have a flower with "woody stems" (lilacs, or other shrub flowers) or want your flowers to open more quickly put them in cool water (as cold as your tap goes). Woody stemmed flowers prefer lukewarm water so that they can better absorb the water.

Add a quarter teaspoon per 500mL of bleach to your water! It kills the bacteria in the water and helps keep the water clean which then helps the flowers continue to be able to soak up water.

Strip any greenery or leaves that are in the water. We try to do this before we put flowers in bouquets but sometimes, we miss a few pieces. This greenery makes your water sour faster so always strip off anything remaining that touches the water.

Take off the elastic your flowers are bundled in. The tighter your flowers are bundled the more likely they are to mould.

Keep them away from fruit. Fruit gives off Ethylene which will shorten the life of your flowers.

Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. (The worst environment for your flowers is a bathroom windowsill). The cooler the temperature of your house the longer they will last!

The more frequently you change the water and re cut the stems and add that bleach... the longer they will last! (we recommend every other day)

Pull out or snip off fading flowers as they die. Remember just because one flower dies does not mean the whole bouquet is garbage! Just pull out or snip off the fading blooms.

Make sure your vase has enough water. Garden flowers tend to drink more water than imported or treated flowers. Never let the water dry out of your vase. Putting too much water in your vase is also not great though so we recommend up to 2 inches of water from the shortest stem.

If you really need your flowers to look perfect for something a few days away keep them in your fridge till you need them. Just make sure they aren't in there with fruit. You can even put them in your fridge at night if you have the space to prolong their life!

Don't ever leave your flowers in a hot car or without water for extended periods of time. The sooner they are in water the better! We always recommend travelling with a cup of water or pail if you know you're planning to pick up flowers. (especially on hot days)

Remember that your flowers aren't meant to last forever and that is one of the things that makes them special. They're here for a good time not a long time ;) .We hope these tips help you extend your vase life a few extra days!

M