Cut flowers in a vase are a beautiful decoration for any room. What should be done to make them last longer?
Cut flowers as room decoration
Cut flowers in a vase add charm and elegance to any room. Unfortunately they often quickly lose their original shine. If they are properly cared for, they will last longer.
It is worth buying flowers in florists, because they are properly cared for. Thanks to that they will survive in a vase longer than those flowers from the supermarket.
What to do to make flowers last longer?
To enjoy beauty of flowers in a room longer, it is worth to follow several rules.
- Appropriate size of a vase – it has to be adjusted to the size of stems, thanks to this it will be a support for them.
- Cutthe stems – cut the stems at a 45° angle before placing them in the vase. It’s a good idea to do this with a sharp knife because scissors can crush the stems. The cut should be at a slant, as this increases the surface through which the flower can absorb water.
- Change thewater regularly – The water in the vase should be changed daily. It is best if it is boiled and clarified water the day before. The stems should be submerged to a height of 3 to 5 cm. It is worthwhile to cut the ends of stems during the water change, thanks to which the flowers will stay fresh longer.
- Conditioner – to make the flowers look beautiful, you can add a pinch of sugar to the water, which will revive them. Along with it, add to the water: citric acid, a pinch of salt or half an aspirin. This will increase the acidity of the water and inhibit bacterial growth. To make flowers look great for longer, it is worth buying special preparations for water available in the florist. Using these preparations, you should change the water every 2 or 3 days.
- Moistening flowers with water – to make flowers look longer, it is worth to moisten them with water from the top e.g.: using a flower sprayer.
- Therightplace – most cut flowers require a shady position.
Flowers from the garden
The least long-lasting flowers in the garden are the marsh flowers, forget-me-nots, field poppies, and lilies. They wilt within hours of being cut. Fragrant peas and garden pinks, among others, will survive a few days in the vase. Roses, dahlias, peonies, lilies and tulips, among others, will keep for about a week. Bearded carnations, levconias and gladioli, among others, will keep for about 3 weeks in a vase. You can enjoy chrysanthemums the longest, about a month.
Some flowers of ornamental shrubs can also be cut to vase, but even with proper care they will last only a few days in a vase.
How to cut flowers from the garden?
The durability of flowers is affected not only by the species, but also by the time of cutting. It is best to carry them out in the early morning or late evening. An important factor is the stage of development. It is best to cut flowers that have just started to bloom. After cutting, put them in water right away.
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