My cousin recently brought over white roses for us to enjoy.
He knows that mom loves flowers just as his mother (mom's sister), aunts and grandmother did.
Whenever David gives us flowers, I feel it's my duty to make sure they last as long as possible.
I know some instructions my grandmother passed down to my mother was to cut the stems at an angle before putting it in a vase and to change the water daily in Hawaii where it's warm and bacteria can grow faster in the water.
The reason I started thinking about flower longevity was this cartoon I saw in the newspaper. I looked this up, but still don't know how true this is. Whatever the facts, I do take out wilted flowers anyway.
I found this website that gave a lot of good advice on keeping your flowers fresh longer. Love-n Fresh Flowers
I thought I'd outline the highlights.
1. Change the water every two days. Like I said, I do this every day. I also don't fill the water too high because I figure it will just cause more bacteria to grow on the stems, but that's just me. I've seen some websites saying to fill the vase 2/3 high.
2. Trim about half an inch off the stems before you put them in a vase and every time you change the water. I keep the stems long when I first put them in a vase and move them to a shorter vase as the stems get shorter every time I trim them.
3. Keep the flowers away from heat and light. Yup. Definitely.
4. Avoid putting your flowers next to ripening fruit or vegetables like bananas and apples because they give off an invisible gas called ethylene. (I didn't know this.)
5. After your last arrangement, you should wash your vase thoroughly with hot soapy water or the dishwasher because the bacteria apparently does not go away. Oops! (Didn't know this either.)
6. Use the flower food that often comes with your bouquet.
7. Use a sharp scissors when cutting the stems so you don't damage the cells/tissue by smashing the stems. I actually use a sharp knife like my mom showed me and I slice it at an angle.
OK... I guess that about does it for me. I have to go wash the vases I used now.
We have usually done all those things out of habit with the exception of 4. Both our flowers and our fruit bowl are typically displayed in the center of the kitchen island. I'll have to separate them the next time.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Kay, very good to know. -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI don't often get fresh flowers. By the time that I do, I will have forgotten this tip, I guarantee it.
ReplyDeleteI knew some of these but others were a surprise. I have no luck with roses, no matter what I do. Carnations last a long time though.
ReplyDeleteIt's goo to get them to last as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips. I didn't know most of this and now I do!
ReplyDeleteKay, I haven't used fresh flowers in the house for ages as the cats always chewed on them. Whenever someone would send flowers, I always had to hide them in the bathroom to protect them from the cats. Now with no cats 'inside', I have started with a few plants (my Hatch pepper, Maidenfern, and Thanksgiving cactus) on my windowsills. Guess maybe I could start using flowers inside again. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteYes, scissors can crush the capillaries closed. Much better to follow mom's advice and cut with a sharp knife at an angle. Thanks for sharing these beautiful flowers and your family photos with us! I can see it resemblance. Aloha from town side honey
ReplyDeleteHow timely a post this is! I just bought a little bouquet of daffodils and will change the water later today!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I find that the length of the bouquet depends on the type of flower. Daffodils last a week if you buy them in the bud. Alstromeia last two weeks if you buy them just opening. But much of the year my cut flowers are from my garden. They last longer outside. :-/
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these tips.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
Great tips. Now I need some flowers.
ReplyDeleteI've been buying Safeway Friday flowers for $5 every other week. Most times they last two weeks of course depending on the type of flower. I do follow most of your tips but didn't know about washing the vase with hot soapy water. Thanks
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Wow! $5 for flowers is a good deal, especially if they can live for 2 weeks! I'd never heard that about having to wash out vases with hot soapy water. That was a surprise for me too.
DeleteWhat beautiful roses! I LOVE the photo with your grandmother in it. Is that your mother next to her or another aunt? Didn't know some of those tips for fresh flowers. The cartoon strip is darling. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say I don't know who that other lady is. She's not an aunt. I'm thinking it's another ikebana (flower arranging) teacher.
DeleteThanks for the valuable tips for keeping flowers fresh. I know growing & maintaining flowers and other activities that beautify the space around you, is a very important aspect of life the Japanese are well-known for - as also you, your mom, and your grand mom.
ReplyDeleteI am so so looking forward to travelling to Japan next week for the Sakura, and seeing other beautiful places there.Have heard so much about Japan, and the strong culture there- very excited!!
One of the things I especially love about Japan is the very clean bathrooms and wonderful food everywhere. You are going to have such a fabulous time. Cherry blossom season is fabulous!
DeleteTy, for sharing these tips that came through your family.
ReplyDeleteI do most of this. JG bought me a dedicated stem clipper That is very sharp and good. Didn't cost much.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips on the flowers! My wife loves fresh flowers and has a small vase of some she cut from our yard right now.
ReplyDeleteSweet photos of your Mom, those beautiful roses and your Grandmother. I enjoyed the funny also. Thank you for the great tips. I was particularly interested in No. 4. I have a vase of sunflowers on my table and have used the flower feeder packet, and do trim the stems and use fresh water, but there are things I didn't know here.
ReplyDeletei really love having fresh flowers in the house, they always brighten things up!! you shared some great tips, most of these things i do!!
ReplyDelete“Cutting stems at an angel in water with sharp scissors” is a must to let them absorb water well. I don’t change water every day but every few or several days. Your grandmother in kimono reminded me of my grandmother. I often heard from her that she had enjoyed playing tennis wearing hakama at school, not about ikebana. BTW, you must be excited with the coming travel. The season of wisteria is about one month away.
ReplyDeleteActually our tour is for April 2025 and we are definitely looking forward to it. The reason I have to change the water here is because our weather is so warm here in Hawaii. I didn't have that problem when we lived in Chicago.
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