Cut Flower Care Guide
CUT FLOWER CARE GUIDE
Five Simple Tips for Longer Lasting Cut Flowers
If you love having fresh flowers in your house as much as I do, you need to be using these simple tips to keep them looking beautiful longer!
Hey! I'm Caroline Van Lith, Owner of Longwoods Flower Farm.
When I was growing up on my parents farm, I would always cut lilacs, peonies, tulips (whatever flowers we had growing) to bring into the house in a vase. I was pretty disappointed when they never seemed to last very long.
I had no idea about the proper harvest stage AND that you actually have to CARE for cut flowers!
Once I learned more about flowers and these 5 easy ways to care for them, things completely changed...
I now grow flowers for a living! I cut them at the proper harvest stage to have them last longer in my house and yours!
5 EASY TIPS FOR LONGER LASTING CUT FLOWERS:
1. Never keep flowers out of water:
Bring your flowers straight home or bring a vase or water to transport them in. Never let them run out of water in the vase!
2. Use an extremely clean vase:
Clean vases thoroughly with soap and water as well as DISINFECT with bleach before each use. Glass, plastic or ceramic vases work best (metal can react with water and become toxic to flowers).
3. Remove all foliage below the water line & trim stems:
When you bring flowers home make sure to remove any foliage from the stems that will be submerged under water. Always give stems a trim before putting them into your fresh vase as well.
4. Keep flowers in a cool place out of direct sunlight:
Flowers will live longest in a shady spot out of direct sunlight and away from fresh fruit and vegetables. Both will make them "ripen" quicker, bringing them to the end of their life.
5. Re-trim the stems and change their water DAILY
A big trick to getting your flowers to last longer is to keep water levels relatively low on the stems and to give them a fresh trim and water every day (or at least every other day). This will keep stems from getting slimy and keep their life source (water) from getting murky, allowing them to drink up water for as long as possible!
All of these things will help you enjoy your blooms the longest!
*ALL FLOWERS ARE DIFFERENT*
Some flowers will naturally last longer than others!
Some flower stems are "dirty flowers" that turn water in the vase murky more quickly. These flowers benefit from putting a drop of bleach in the water or the use of flower food to help combat bacteria from forming.
The following are considered the Dirty Dozen to watch out for:
Stock Yarrow
Rudbeckia Zinnias
Dahlias Gerbera Daisies
Marigolds Sunflowers
Amaranthus Celosia
Feverfew Snapdragons
Each cut flower has a different vase life expectancy.
It's important to remember that cut flowers are living things that are highly perishable and should be cared for properly. Their beauty brings so much joy and happiness into our lives - They are SO worth the extra effort!
I really hope these tips inspire you to care for your blooms, so you can get the most enjoyment out of them as possible!
After all, having your hands in nature as much as possible if good for the soul.
HAPPY FLOWERING!
kindly,
Caroline Van Lith
Longwoods Flower Farm
www.longwoodsflowerfarm.com
contact@longwoodsflowerfarm.com
IG: Longwoodsflowerfarm