Keep Mother’s Day Flowers Fresh and Green

Keep cut fresh flowers longer (image from Hello-Julie on Flickr)

Happy Mother’s Day!  As the mom to four children, I love the special cards and other sentiments shared with so much love this day.  As we are in the middle of Spring, I also love receiving flowers… my family doesn’t disappoint!  If you are the lucky recipient of cut flowers, you’ll want to prevent them from wilting overnight.

Fresh cut flowers can last longer (image from Hello-Julie on Flickr)

Here’s how you can keep Mother’s Day flowers fresh and green (now bookmark this article for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.):

Internet-based advice for cut flowers – adding teaspoons of bleach, a crushed aspirin or even a penny to the water in a vase – may help do the trick for a bit, but for really long lasting blooms, professional florists recommend using the commercial flower preservative packets that often come with bouquets.

Even more important than what you put in the water, is how clean and fresh the water is itself!  Change it daily and clean out the vase too.  Before you put the stems in water, cut them at an angle to increase the flowers’ ability to “drink” the water.  Add floral food each day, as well.  Changing the water will keep bacteria growth in check.

Finally, enjoy your bouquet in a cool spot in your home or office, away from heating sources or windows that receive intense afternoon sun.

If you take just 3-4 minutes each day to tend to your cut flowers, you can increase the time you’ll enjoy them.  Some cut flowers can last as long as 14 days if cared for appropriately.

Of course, flowers are at their prettiest when displayed in a clean vase with clear, fresh water.  Not only are you helping extend the life of your blooms, the care you show your bouquet will maintain its beauty, as well.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day flowers!