Making Cut Flowers Last Longer

John Nash, Master Gardener Hotline

February 8, 2023

St. Valentine's Day is the time many of us are given cut flowers as gifts. How can you make these beautiful gifts last longer? Here are tips for preserving your cut flowers:

Use a thoroughly cleaned vase or container.
re-cut stems back about an inch at a 45 degree angle. Cutting at an angle exposes more stem surface so that the flower can more readily absorb water.
Remove any leaves from the stems which would be immersed in the container water. If not removed, these leaves will deteriorate and shorten the life of the cut flowers.
Remove any dead flowers. Dead flowers will contaminate the water, causing other stems to die prematurely.
Change the water in the container every other day and re-cut the stems again.
Use a commercial cut flower preservative in the container water. These preservatives provide nutrients to the flower, thereby preserving the flowers longer.
Keep flowers out of direct sunlight and in a cool area. Direct sunlight or excessive heat will dehydrate the blooms and shorten the bloom life.