A bouquet of flowers has always been and will always be a pleasant gift for March 8, a birthday, or a wedding. Having placed it in a vase, I want it to please us for as long as possible. But any living organism, including flowers, has its own life span, especially cut ones. Then how can you extend the life of flowers? The main rule: you need to be able to properly care for them. The techniques for restoring and maintaining freshness are not complicated, they are accessible to everyone. And this is what we will talk about today.
How to preserve flowers longer?
It is of great importance when and how the flowers were cut. Incorrect cutting with a blunt object can significantly reduce the freshness of flowers. Unfortunately, in most cases, flowers are purchased to give to someone. Having accepted a bouquet as a gift, you need to try to make it last longer in the vase.
Tips on how to preserve flowers longer:
- Under running cold water, cut off 1-2 cm of the stem. If it is a soft stem, like tulips, it is best to make a long, diagonal cut. Thus, living tissues will quickly absorb water.
- Scissors or a dull knife are not suitable for these purposes. The ideal option would be a surgical scalpel or a very sharp utility knife. For such purposes, you can purchase disposable surgical scalpels at the pharmacy and store them in your home. Next, remove the lower leaves, because it is this part of the plant that often rots, contributing to the deterioration of the entire flower. Be sure to add new water every day.
- Moreover, it is best to use not chlorinated tap water, but purified water using a filter or boiled water. In summer, the water temperature should be 10 degrees, and in winter about 20. Under no circumstances should there be dirty water in the vase, as it will contribute to rotting and rapid fading of the flowers.
- Be sure to place the plant only in a bright room, but not in direct sunlight, so that there are no drafts in the room. The ideal temperature for preserving flowers in a bouquet is 18-20 degrees. It is best to leave the bouquet in a cooler room overnight. If you have a cellar or balcony, then in winter it is best to take the bouquet there. The temperature at night should be 10-15 degrees.
Florist
How long can I keep a bouquet of flowers?
The most difficult thing is caring for bouquets. For the composition, different flowers are often collected that feel good under different conditions and temperatures. However, there are still general rules that should be followed.
How long to preserve a bouquet of flowers:
- Be sure to remove the packaging. No matter how beautiful and exotic it is, it is necessary to remove it. The ribbon that ties the bouquet must be cut. It is necessary that the flowers free themselves from the tight rope and do not touch each other. Now, one by one, each stem must be cut under water, removing about 2 cm from the tip. It should also be oblique.
- Try to perform all manipulations under water. When transferring the stem to a vase, it is necessary to press the cut area so that an air cushion does not form on it, which will prevent the absorption of water.
- Water is collected from melt or rain; liquid passed through a filter is suitable . You can add a small amount of boric acid or aspirin to it. Indeed, in a slightly acidic environment, almost all flowers feel very good, which prolongs the freshness of the bouquet for a long time.
- Every day it is necessary to change the water and renew the cut by about 1-2 cm. Be sure to cut off all the buds that have bloomed and withered. The same must be done with dried or rotten leaves. At the initial stage, all leaves that are immersed in water must be cut off. They rot quickly and in one or two days you will get an unpleasant smell and a completely withered bouquet.
Preparation
How to keep fresh flowers longer using soda and bleach?
There are several ways to extend the life of flowers longer. For these purposes you will need some rather strange products. It is best to use lemonade and bleach.
How to keep fresh flowers longer using soda and bleach:
- You need to add a little sweet soda to melted or purified water in a 3:1 ratio. Next, add three drops of bleach, which contains chlorine, to this mixture. It's best if it's something like Whiteness.
- Lemonade contains acid and sugar, which helps nourish the flowers and improves the flow of juice inside. Bleach, in turn, serves as a bactericidal agent that inhibits pathogenic microorganisms that often multiply in water.
- Use the hardening method. After you bring the bouquet home, you need to put it in water with a temperature of 45 degrees. It is best to use boiled water that has cooled down for these purposes.
Please note that the flowers need to be placed in a cold place so that the petals are kept in a cool place. Choose a wide-necked vase for your flowers and never place them in a container that will compress the stems. This impairs the movement of sap inside the stems, so the flowers will quickly die.
Florist's work
Let's sum it up
Flowers are like people - they do not like scorching heat and temperature changes, they are “friends” or “enemies” with their neighbors, they “enjoy” a cool shower. Provide them with the right “diet” and beware of bacteria that poison the water. Prepare the water before placing the bouquet in it. Perform simple “surgical” procedures. Follow these rules, and the bouquet will delight you not for a day or two, but for 4-6 days, depending on the endurance of individual plants. Even delicate spring flowers like irises will not fade in the morning, but will gain new strength. Understand the needs of flowers and they will respond to your care!
How to keep flowers in a vase longer than roses?
Roses are special flowers that require special care. They are stored for quite a long time, but certain rules must be followed. First of all, as soon as you bring roses home, you need to pay attention to the temperature of the room and the weather outside.
How to keep flowers in a vase longer than roses:
- If you purchased roses in the cold, do not rush to bring them into a warm room and put them in water. Leave them in a cool place. This could be a balcony or a cellar. Keep the roses in such conditions for about an hour so that they become accustomed to the room temperature.
- Only after this do you take it into a warm room. Be sure to pick off the leaves below. They should not come into contact with water. In addition to the leaves, the thorns must also be cut off. Be sure to cut the stems at an angle, about 3 cm.
- It is also worth cutting not at a right angle, but at about 45 degrees. Be sure to place roses in water at room temperature, which has settled or filtered. Twice a day, add a few ice cubes to the water to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
- The stems of the plant cannot be immediately immersed in cold water, because adaptation is necessary. Be sure to add sugar and vinegar to the liquid in which the roses are standing. For a liter of water you will need 20 ml of vinegar and 20 g of sugar. Be sure to add an aspirin tablet if you don't want the smell of vinegar to fill the room. If these remedies are not available, use an activated carbon tablet.
- Every day you need to change the water and cut off the ends of the stems. Despite the fact that roses love cool weather, they must be placed in a room with a temperature of 25 degrees. It is necessary to reduce the water temperature with the help of ice cubes, which are not added all at once, but one at a time. Be sure to spray the buds with a spray bottle throughout the day.
Assembling a bouquet
If you gave lilacs
Cut lilacs will remain blooming and fragrant if you follow four rules.
- Slice It is better to make it “long” and split at the end.
- Water. Lilac prefers an acidified environment. Add a teaspoon of vinegar or half a teaspoon (without a slide) of citric acid per liter of settled water.
- Spraying. Must be done at least twice a day.
- Overnight. At night, generously spray the lilac and “wrap” it in wet paper. Now you need to move the vase to a cool place.
If the lilac begins to lose its tone, then use the “reanimation” recipe for chrysanthemums. But keep the stems in boiling water a little longer - 15-20 seconds. Now move the bouquet into a vase with cold water, spray and wrap the flowers in wet newspaper for one to two hours.
Video on the topic
How to preserve chrysanthemum flowers?
Chrysanthemums are flowers that, with proper care, can last in water for about 14 days. Unlike other flowers, they have a very rigid stem with dense fibers, like a tree. Therefore, they require different care than other flowers. To make the bouquet last longer, you must adhere to the following rules.
How to preserve chrysanthemum flowers:
- Refresh the cut . It is best to do it obliquely, at an angle of 45 degrees. However, while this is quite enough for roses and tulips, the chrysanthemum stem is very fibrous and does not absorb water well. Therefore, it is necessary to promote better water absorption.
- For these purposes, you need to take a sharp stationery knife and cut the stem crosswise . It is necessary to insert a match into the resulting space so that the ends of the cut are split. This will allow the plant to absorb water.
- You can revive a chrysanthemum using special hardening , which differs from the previous method. After you bring the bouquet home, you need to immerse it in ice water for about 2 minutes. Next, remove the bouquet and place it in a liquid with a temperature of 45 degrees.
- Unlike roses, you should never add sugar to the water for a bouquet of chrysanthemums . The fact is that these flowers contain a substance that, together with sugar, can provoke fermentation processes and water spoilage. The water in a vase with chrysanthemums runs out much faster than with other flowers.
- Therefore, it is imperative to add special mineral additives to the liquid , which will prevent the proliferation of microorganisms or a little potassium permanganate. It is necessary that the solution becomes pale pink. Crizal powder, which is sold in a flower shop, will do.
Chrysanthemums
Remove any wilted petals and leaves
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To keep the water in the vase clean and fresh longer, remove all rotten leaves and petals. Particularly carefully clean the part of the stem that will sink into the water.
Leaves in water promote the formation of bacteria that are harmful to flowers. Moreover, when the leaves fall into the water, it becomes cloudy and acquires a putrid odor.
How to preserve flowers in water?
In order for the bouquet to be preserved in water for a long time, you need to pay attention to its freshness at the time of purchase. Most buyers, out of ignorance, purchase unopened buds, believing that they can stand in water for a long time. This is incorrect, since such plants are immature, and in a vase with water they are no longer able to fully bloom.
How to preserve flowers in water:
- Such bouquets fade even before the buds bloom. To prevent this from happening, choose half-opened buds that can adapt to home conditions. They are mature, so they will last longer.
- The stem should have no obvious changes in color, a uniform green tint. You need to pay attention to the bud. Feel it with the tip of your index finger and thumb. It is necessary that the bud at the base is very dense, but not flaccid, loose or soft.
- It is the density that indicates that the plant contains a lot of water and juices, so the flower will stand in water for a long time. You also need to pay attention to the cut line. If there are dark inclusions or mucus at the tips, this indicates the processes of fermentation and rotting. Accordingly, such a bouquet may not last long due to the fact that rotting processes could begin inside.
Roses
How to save carnations
Carnations are actually long-lived too. If you follow these four recommendations, the flowers will last at least two weeks.
- Slice The stem of the clove is not cut off, but broken off. Then the bottom edge is split.
- Lure. The best nutritional “cocktail” for cloves is a sugar-lemon mixture or aspirin.
- Water level. It should not exceed a quarter of a meter. No more carnations are needed.
- Cold. For greater durability, it is recommended to place the container in the refrigerator daily. Literally for half an hour.
The rules about drafts and spraying also apply to carnations. Change the water strictly daily.
They are reanimated in the same way as chrysanthemums. You can also add a teaspoon of camphor or glycerin to boiling water and place freshly broken stems there. After two to three hours, the bouquet should be moved into a vase with “nutritional” water.
How to keep fresh flowers longer using aspirin, sugar, ice?
Many florists advise, after purchasing an assorted bouquet, to cut off the packaging and disassemble the composition into its component parts. That is, the roses are placed separately, the decor is separate. This will keep the bouquet fresh longer.
How to keep fresh flowers longer using aspirin, sugar, ice:
- Gerberas require special attention, as they cannot tolerate sweet water. It is best to add activated carbon to a container with such flowers and make sure that the stems do not touch the bottom.
- Roses must be stored in water with acetylsalicylic acid. Before placing them in a vase, you need to soak the buds in cold water for a few minutes. Fill a bowl with cold water, let it sit, and place the roses in it, along with a few ice cubes.
- This will not only allow the stem to absorb moisture well, but also saturate the heads with water, which will prevent wilting. Add minerals that will keep the bouquet fresh longer and make the buds more vibrant. Tulips love the cold, add ice to the water.
Composition
How to keep daffodil flowers fresh?
There are flowers that have a very negative effect on the freshness of the components of the bouquet. Among them are roses and daffodils. These are flowers that need to be removed from the bouquet and placed in a separate container.
How to keep daffodil flowers fresh:
- The fact is that the stems contain a special substance that can have a detrimental effect on other plants. It is necessary to monitor the temperature in the room and under no circumstances place the bouquet on the windowsill.
- Store in warm places, but away from radiators or sun. Very high temperatures contribute to the rapid death of the plant, so in no case should you place the bouquet near the stove, oven or microwave.
- Please note that chrysanthemums and roses really like spraying, unlike tulips and daffodils. It is best not to refresh these flowers with a spray bottle.
Daffodils
Tulips
Tulips are another attribute of the women's holiday. The lifespan of a fresh tulip is short, only 3-5 days. But it can also last longer if you pay attention to the following points when purchasing.
- The bud should be large enough and well colored;
- The leaves are elastic, without damage and even green in color;
- Do not buy buds whose petals are secured with a rubber band. As soon as you bring them home and remove the clamp, the petals will fall off within a few hours;
- Also, do not buy tulips from cars on the street. On holidays, due to high demand, they are even sold on the street. Usually, tulips are sold on the street already frozen, since in March the temperature can still be below zero. When purchased, they look beautiful, but at home, in the warmth, they will quickly thaw, wilt and become like rags.
How are flowers stored in the store?
The freshness of flowers in the store depends on the method of transportation to our country. Many plants are flown in from overseas, and in most cases the popular chains deliver the goods by wet method. Immediately after cutting, such flowers are placed in a bucket of water and brought to the store. This method has a drawback. After the cut, water replenishment begins immediately after collection. Thus, this reduces the freshness of the plant by several days. By purchasing flowers delivered this way, you will receive a fresh bouquet that will wither in 2 days.
How to preserve flowers in a store:
- The ideal option is to use the dry method. Flowers are cut and delivered not in containers with water, but with dry stems. A special substance is applied to the tip of the cut, which seems to preserve the flower and prevent moisture evaporation. Thus, flowers arrive in stores in a wilted state. In order to revive them, it is necessary to update the cut and place it directly in water.
- After about 3-4 hours, these flowers come to life. Immediately after purchase, they have a beautiful appearance and do not fade for a long time. However, it is almost impossible to control these processes and few sellers know how the bouquets were delivered to our country. In stores, to keep flowers longer, they use lower temperatures. Approximately 4 to 10 degrees.
- Such flowers, phalaenopsis, are stored at room temperature. Please note that all flowers require different storage conditions. For example, bulbous flowers such as daffodils and tulips should be placed in water without pruning. That is, there is no need to cut the stem with a cone or corner. Chrysanthemum is a plant with tree-like stems, so it is best to split it.
- In some stores, these flowers are not cut, but broken off. This way, the cut is not an even one, but a fibrous one, which promotes better water absorption. Before transferring the rose to a vase, it is shortened by about 3 cm with an oblique cut.
Please note that the water level in the flask with flowers such as roses, gerberas and chrysanthemums should be no more than 10 cm. It is best if the stems do not reach the bottom of the container.
In the shop
How to preserve a bouquet of flowers at home using ammonia and camphor alcohol?
It is also worth adhering to certain rules when preserving bouquets. The fact is that the care for some bouquets differs from standard ones.
How to preserve a bouquet of flowers at home using ammonia and camphor alcohol:
- The worst preserved are prefabricated bouquets, which consist of several types of flowers, plants and decor. It is necessary to disassemble them into their component parts. If this is not possible, then comfortable or ammonia will help prolong the preservation of the bouquet.
- The fact is that these substances help preserve flowers, which consist of a large number of petals. It is best to use these substances to care for bouquets of roses, chrysanthemums and gerberas.
- It is best if the buds in the bouquet are unopened. Ammonia will help achieve the maturity of the bud; it will not dry out even at the initial stage of blooming.
Flower shop
Healthy Supplements
To preserve a bouquet of flowers in a vase for a long time, you can buy a ready-made nutrient mixture in a specialized store. Here are the most popular ones:
- Chrysal;
- Etisso;
- Fleur 'Eau;
- Biopon;
- FloraLife.
Some flower shops give such a bag of fertilizer as a gift when purchasing a bouquet. In addition to nutrients, these compositions also have disinfecting components, so the water does not “spoil” and the plants last up to two times longer than usual.
In the absence of store-bought “powder”, you can prepare something similar to the store-bought compositions yourself. The table below describes such recipes.
Table - Homemade compositions for storing cut flowers
Recipe | Composition (per 1 liter of water) | Change water (once a week) |
With vodka | — Sugar — 10 g; – vodka – 10 ml | 5 |
With citric acid | Citric acid powder - 2 g | 3-4 |
With vinegar | — Sugar — 10 g; - table vinegar - 10 ml | 2-3 |
With soda | Any sweet soda – 50 ml | 5 |
With bleach | Liquid oxygen bleach - 3 drops | 2-3 |
With aspirin | Aspirin (can be replaced with streptocide) - 1 tablet | 2-3 |
With coal | Activated carbon – 1-2 tablets | 2-3 |
Keep in mind that lilies of the valley and cyclamens do not “like” sugar. Although other flowers are favorable to him. Accordingly, the recipe with soda does not suit them.
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a universal remedy. It has an antibacterial effect, plus it nourishes plant cells. The tablets can be used either alone or in combination with other substances, such as sugar or activated carbon.
Not all flowers “get along” in a bouquet. Roses, lilies of the valley, daffodils, lilies, orchids and carnations suppress all other flowers - they need to be placed in a separate container. And geranium and thuja, on the contrary, create a favorable microclimate for the “neighbors”. Different types of flowers require different care.
Video on the topic
How to preserve a bouquet of lilies longer?
Lilies are very beautiful flowers that have a bright, rich aroma. That is why they should not be placed in the bedroom or children's room, as this can cause headaches or malaise. Before purchasing such a bouquet, pay attention to its condition.
How to preserve a bouquet of lilies longer: .
- If the petals are completely covered with pollen, then the lilies have been in the store for more than one day. Be sure to remove the bouquet from the water and look at the tip of the stems. If they are dark and covered with a slippery coating, this indicates long-term storage.
- The freshness of the bouquet is indicated by a large number of cut leaves or short stems. The store clerk has already trimmed the stem several times to prolong storage. Once purchased, such lilies will not last long.
- If you purchased a fresh bouquet, then you need to try to maintain freshness for a long time. On average, lilies can last about 10 days with proper care. Immediately after purchase, be sure to remove the leaves that are in the water. Using sharp scissors, carefully cut off the stamens and pollen. It is not necessary to remove the antennae themselves. It is best to do this upside down so that pollen does not fall on the stems and leaves.
- After all, it is pollen that takes up a lot of moisture, which causes plants to quickly wither. It is necessary to make an oblique cut as indicated above. Remove the antennae that also end up in the water. Under no circumstances should lilies be placed in a metal vase, as this can cause the flower to deteriorate and oxidize. The ideal option would be dark-colored glass or an opaque vase. A large number of bacteria multiply precisely under the influence of sunlight.
It is imperative to remove leaves that begin to dry out and buds that have faded. Large leaves need to be sprayed, as lilies love moisture, and it is best to transfer the plants from the vase to the bathroom or a bucket of cold water at night. It is necessary to completely immerse the flower, stem and leaves with petals in water. The ideal option would be soft water or rainwater. You can soften the water using a small amount of baking soda. You can throw a silver coin, or charcoal.
Florist shop
Bouquet of gerberas
Gerberas have a fragile stem, and the inflorescence is quite large and heavy. You will have to handle the flower as gently as possible. By the way, you can “reinforce” the stem - spirally wrap it with wire along its entire length. And five simple techniques will help keep your bouquet bright and vibrant longer.
- Water level. Maximum 4 cm above the cut. Gerbera stems rot easily, so the water level should not exceed the distance you remove the next time you prune.
- Vase. In low conditions, gerberas will definitely break - the stems simply will not support the weight of the inflorescences. Therefore, the vase should be high enough so that the ends of the stems do not touch the bottom.
- "Desoldering". After each trimming, gerberas should be placed in a bowl of cold water for about an hour. And only after that put the bouquet in the vase.
- Lure. It is more effective to use store-bought formulations, but Aspirin or citric acid will also work. Florists also advise dipping the tip of the stem in salt, and then placing the flower in water.
- Drafts. Gerberas do not tolerate drafts well. Check the room thoroughly for their presence.
By the way, gerberas “love” the cold - throw pieces of ice into the vase, and put the bouquet in the refrigerator overnight.
You can bring fading gerberas back to life, just like chrysanthemums, by “bathing” in boiling water. Then the bouquet is quickly placed in the refrigerator. But keep in mind that such “execution” will not add more than a day to the life of gerberas.
How to preserve a bouquet of roses until the morning?
Many problems arise in the summer, when immediately after purchasing and arriving home, the bouquet seems not fresh, and even withering. There is one sure way to revive a bouquet and prolong its freshness until the morning. This will allow you to give a fresh bouquet. To revive flowers, you need to wrap each bud in paper; it is best to use parchment or tissue paper for this. After this, you need to boil and cool the water to a temperature of approximately 80 or 90 degrees.
How to save a bouquet of roses until the morning:
- Now you need to carefully take the bouquet by the buds and lower about one and a half centimeters of the stem into almost boiling water. Let sit for 2 minutes, then remove the stems from the hot water. Renew the cut by removing approximately 1.5 cm. Now you need to place it in water at room temperature with a small amount of alcohol.
- 10 ml of pure 96% alcohol per 1 liter of water is enough. Please note that cutting must be done with a sharp utility knife or special garden shears. The stem cannot be cut with ordinary household scissors.
- Unlike dark-colored roses, white and yellow buds should never be completely immersed in water. After the liquid dries, marks and stains remain on the surface of the petals, which then cause damage to the plant and its drying out.
Flower salon
How to revive a bouquet of flowers?
There is another way to revive a bouquet that you are going to give as a gift the next day.
How to revive a bouquet of flowers:
- Fill a spray bottle with some water and add aspirin or a small amount of potassium permanganate. For these purposes, you can also use chlorhexidine or another antiseptic solution that is available in the house.
- The solution must be very weak. Spray on the buds, and put a plastic bag on them, tie them tightly. In this way, unique conditions with high humidity are created inside, which will contribute to the resuscitation and restoration of the bouquet.
- Indeed, most plants feed not through the stem, but through the buds. This method will help quickly restore the appearance of flowers and restore their freshness.
Florists
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Before putting flowers in a vase, it is necessary to wash it with a brush, a special brush, using chlorine-containing substances. They perfectly disinfect containers, killing bacteria and mold.