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.

Featured Stories

Area 2 Pesticide Applicator Program

Private and commercial applicators have three opportunities to obtain credits on Thursday,...

Commercial Pesticide Applicator Workshop

Commercial applicators have the opportunity to earn credits for multiple pesticide applicator...

Pesticide Applicator Training for the CORE Exam

Private and commercial applicators can receive training for the CORE Exam on Wednesday, December...

October Clover Chronicle

The October edition of the 4-H newsletter, the Clover Chronicle.

Seasonal Flowers

Throughout the year, we experience four seasons due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, its...

Consider a Garden Journal

Maybe I should consider starting a garden journal in the coming year. What about you?