Tips for Freshly Cut Flowers

Flowers, in general, are one of the best parts of nature. Most of us like to have them in our house, either as a flower arrangement or simply placing a loose flower in a beautiful container. All in all, freshly cut flowers make great decorations.

However, before cutting the flowers from the garden or buying them at the florist, it’s a good idea to have a clear idea of the type of arrangement you want to make and where you’ll be placing it.

Another important thing that you should take into account with freshly cut flowers is learning to maintain their freshness for as long as possible. To do this, it’s important that you follow the steps in order to take care of them. Right now you’re probably wondering what those steps are. Don’t worry, they’re very easy and simple. Continue reading and you’ll discover them.

“A flower blossoms for its own joy.”

-Oscar Wilde-

The best time of day to cut flowers

Freshly cut flowers can’t be cut at any part of the day. The best time of the day to cut flowers from the garden are the first hours of the morning and the last hours of the afternoon when the sun has set. In summer you should avoid taking them at the hottest hours.

It’s very important to know that you shouldn’t leave a plant flowerless, no matter if it’s summer or winter. One of the worst things you could do is cutting the flowers that are just starting to open or, even worse, open the buds yourself. Remember plants are also living things who have their own processes. Let them follow their natural flowering course.

On the other hand, in order to make a bouquet, you should avoid cutting dying flowers whose petals have already fallen or that are very open since they won’t last very long. If you cut them somewhere else other than at your home, wrap them in moistened paper so that they’re better preserved during transport.

Things to pay attention to when buying flowers

This is something we stated previously. We don’t recommend buying very open or withered flowers. Both of these characteristics are signs that they’ve lost freshness. In addition, it’s not good to buy those that have been exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

Whether you cut or buy them, the flowers and branches should be treated as an indoor plant. This means they shouldn’t have too much exposure to direct sunlight. You must keep them away from draughts and keep the humidity and temperature at bay so that your arrangement lasts for as long as possible.

We also advise you to put the flowers in water while you get everything organized before making your arrangement. At night, it’s best to leave them in a cool and well-ventilated room.

Freshly cut flowers – preparation and hydration

With the flowers already cut and all arranged to set the floral arrangement, the next step is to take care of them. Remove the leaves from the stem portion that will go in the water or be stuck in the moistened foam.

Cut off the dead flowers found in the branches of abundant flowering. When it comes to bulb flowers, remove the white part of the stem base to facilitate water absorption.

Before putting them into the container submerge the stem base in warm water first and then in cold water. This will help the flowers stay hydrated for much longer.

We highly recommend spraying the leaves from time to time without spraying the flowers. It’s also good to cut off the softened piece of the base of the stems, as well as the leaves that remain in contact with the water.

Fun facts you should be aware of

Flowers absorb half of the water they need to live during the first 24 hours after being cut. Therefore, we advise you to add a few drops of phosphate-enriched liquid fertilizer for them to stay fresh longer.

A homemade trick to make your freshly cut flowers last longer is to add a few drops of lemon or white vinegar to the water or add three drops of bleach per liter of water.

The most common freshly cut flowers

Although all flowers can be cut, some are more water-resistant than others. Those with this characteristic are better for making bouquets and all kinds of floral arrangements.

Among the most common are roses, hydrangeas, gladioli, carnations, evergreen, and lilies. If you want to give an original touch to your arrangement, we recommend you choose flowers such as coves, agapanthus, and tuberose.

“In joy or sadness, flowers are out constant friends.”

-Okakura Kakuzo-