8 Hacks to Keep Fresh Cut Flowers Alive Longer

Got a bouquet of fresh cut flowers?

They won’t last long after getting cut. If you don’t do anything about them, they’ll wilt quicker than you’d expect. The most popular flowers, like red roses and daisies, barely last two weeks.

The good thing is that there are a few hacks to keep your flowers looking fresh a little while longer. This is most helpful if you want to keep your flowers beautiful for an upcoming party or important dinner.

Step one is to make sure your flowers get the nutrients they need.

Feed Your Fresh Cut Flowers

Keep in mind that when you cut flowers off from the main plant and stick them in a vase, they don’t get the same amount of nourishment as they once had. You have to keep the flowers fed and healthy to help them last longer.

Sugar has carbohydrates that the flowers need to survive. 2 tablespoons of sugar per day is enough.

If you bought fresh cut flowers instead of receiving them as a gift, you’ll likely have a nutrient pack that comes with them. You can think of it as food for flowers. Take a little time each morning to add a few drops into the vase to keep your flowers healthy.

Kill the Bacteria

There is one problem with adding sugar in the vase water: sugar encourages bacteria growth. Humans need healthy environments to work and so do your flowers.

The trick is to add 2 tablespoons of apple vinegar cider, which is an acid, to help combat the bacteria.

Other techniques to kill bacteria is to add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach per 1 liter of water. You can also add in copper pennies because the metal contains acidic elements too. Make sure to cut off any leaves that would submerge in the water because those too are sources of bacteria.

Cut the Stems

Make sure to cut the stems at a 45-degree angle and 1 inch above the bottom of the vase. You have to do this on a regular basis otherwise the plant will heal itself by sealing the stem’s natural pathways.

The flowers won’t be able to absorb nutrients in the water. Cutting the stems an inch above the bottom ensures they get enough space to collect the nutrients they need.

Keep Them Cool

Flowers, like most plants, need sunlight for photosynthesis. However, most fresh cut flowers die when left in direct sunlight. As a matter of fact, professional florists keep their flowers cold and may even chill them in a refrigerator for hours to help them last longer.

You don’t have to make room in your fridge for your flowers but you should keep them away from direct sunlight. Even if your flowers stay indoors, they will get the light they need to function. A light shade can prevent your fresh cut flowers from withering in days.

Hairspray Trick

Roses can help you relax and one of the reasons behind this is their hue. The beautiful color of flowers delivers an emotional benefit to people. Unfortunately, most fresh cut flowers lose their bright colors after a few days.

But did you know you can keep that hue bright by spraying a little hairspray?

Hairspray products changed over the past few decades. During the 1980’s they contained harmful chemicals that could kill most plants and played a part in destroying the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Times changed and today’s hairspray products are milder and safer in comparison.

To use hairspray for your flowers, stand about a foot away and focus on spraying the underside of the petals and leaves. Don’t spray too much because then the chemicals could harm the flowers more than helping them.

Clear Soda

Did you know that soda drinks like 7-Up and Sprite can help keep your fresh cut flowers looking beautiful too?

Soft drinks contain a high amount of sugar and carbohydrates. As mentioned, flowers feed on on the carbohydrates to stay fresh and alive. Soda also contains natural acids that can help fight off bacteria.

You do have to be careful because too much soda can cause more harm than good. The suggested amount is to pour a quarter cup of clear soda into a vase. Clear soda is better because drinks like Coca-Cola can cloud the water.

Clean the Vase

The vase also needs cleaning to keep bad bacteria away. Those bacteria eat away the nutrients your flowers need and can prevent the plants from getting the few nutrients left.

Before pouring in water and placing the flowers, make sure to wash the insides with soap and hot water. Wipe the insides down with a little bit of bleach or white vinegar.

Make it a point to do this on a regular basis. Fallen leaves, petals, dust, and dead bugs can find their way into the vase water over the course of a few hours. Clean the water and vase to get rid of all bacteria sources.

Follow a Routine

Speaking of cleaning on a regular basis, make it a habit to follow a regular routine. Schedule when you can and should replace the water, clean the vase, prune the stem, add hairspray, and place sugar and apple cider vinegar to feed the flowers.

Following a routine like this will guarantee the flowers get the nutrients and cleaning they need to stay fresh a few days more.

It will also ensure you don’t forget to take care of your flowers. Some people end up with dead flowers only a few days after buying them because they forgot to change the water or get them out of direct sunlight while they were away at work.

Learn More DIY Tips Today

With these simple steps, you can prolong the life of your favorite flowers. You can keep a bouquet fresh in time for a house party or romantic dinner with a loved one.

Not satisfied with only keeping flowers? We provide some of the best DIY tips for you to save money and still get amazing results. You can start here by reading our guide to growing herbs indoors or building your first treehouse.