There is no better feeling than getting a bouquet of fresh flowers from a loved one, but what now? I always find myself aimlessly plopping the bouquet into a vase and then 2 days later I walk past and they are already wilting. With Valentines day right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to share what I have learned about keeping those beautiful bouquets lasting their longest life possible!

Ice Ice Baby

The main thing I have learned is that fresh cut flowers are not a fan of heat, in any way shape or form. When grabbing the water for your vase you want to stay away from hot water. This could potentially boil your flowers! Cool/room temp water is best to keep your flowers happy. Another heat that fresh cut flowers don’t adapt well to is typical room heat. I tend to put my full vase somewhere out of direct sunlight and not near a heater or a vent that’s pumping out hot air. Leaving your flowers in hot spots like these will cause them to wilt faster, and we don’t want that! Keep these tips in mind the next time you are finding a home for your new bouquet.

Be Mindful of Pruning

When putting your bouquet into a vase, prune off any foliage that sits inside the vase but not in the water. The moisture will get trapped in those leaves and cause them to rot quicker. Bacteria is a big downfall for the sustainability of fresh flower bouquets. With this in mind, it’s important to change the water in your vase regularly. It doesn’t have to be a hassle, but once every half week should be perfect. While you’re changing the water, this is a good time to trim a quick half inch off the bottom of your stems. This will just ensure the flowers are getting the most out of the fresh water and help extend their life span in your vase.

Feed Them Well

Most fresh cut bouquets come equipped with a food packet. Those are great at first but in the event your bouquet didn’t come with one, or it’s time to change your water and you don’t have any more, Plant Vitamins Thrive is a great option as well. Made with 60 + minerals, vitamins, and active growth hormones, adding Thrive to your flowers water every time you change it over and re-cut the stems will ensure that your flowers are getting all the nutrients they need to sustain themselves for longer than the average bouquet. 

With all of these tips in mind, remember that having a bouquet is very different than having a house plant and these flowers are not meant to last forever. The average lifespan of a fresh cut bouquet is 7-12 days but this can be extended when using some of the tips mentioned above.

Now that you have all the flower facts you need, we wish you a happy Valentines day! 

Until next time,

Plant Vitamins Team