I Just Got Flowers! What Can I Do to Make Them Last Longer?

We all want flowers in our spaces to bring them to life. Even though flowers have a determined freshness period of time, There are some things we can do to make them last longer.

At Anesa, we give flowers the best care so they're as fresh and hydrated as possible when they get to you. It's up to you to keep them that way so you can enjoy them for many days.

Tip #1 - Hydration is Key

This might seem obvious, but a flower has to be well hydrated. This isn't only putting them in water, but also facilitating the hydration process for them.

If your flowers arrive in a vase or a vessel you've won half the battle. This is due to the fact that flowers wither quicker when they spend long periods of time out of water. If this isn't the case, don't worry. Just cut the stems about an inch and put them in water immediately. Time is running against you, so make sure it takes no longer than 30 seconds from the moment you cut the stem to when you put them in water.

Tip #2 - Clean Surfaces

Since they're living things, flowers may suffer if they're in contact with germs and bacteria. Thus, it's extremely important that your vases are clean so mold doesn't grow. Also make sure that the tools and surfaces that come in contact with the flowers are disinfected beforehand. We use DCD by FloraLife to clean our vessels, tools and surfaces, but you can use any surface cleaner of your preference as long as you rinse and dry everything afterwards.

Make sure that the water that you put them in is clean as well. If you receive flowers from a floristry, stems will be pre-cleaned to make sure no leaves are in contact with the water. In case your are working with flowers from the market or freshly cut ones from your garden you will need to do the processing work of removing leaves and cutting moldy stems so the water isn't contaminated and bacteria doesn't grow.

Tip #3 - The Right Lighting

Flowers enjoy the sun, but it must be in an indirect way. They must also be in a dry and cool environment. The kitchen, for example, is a bad place to keep your flowers due to the heat and humidity.

Tip #4 - Constant Care

It's crucial to change the water your flowers are drinking from regularly. If you use flower food, changing the water every two days should be enough. Otherwise we recommend to change it daily.

This is also a good time to cut the stems another inch, this helps open up the pores so they can hydrate properly and last longer.

Tip #5 - Research

Although the previous tips work for most flowers, not all of them require the same care. For example, tulips prefer cold water and hydrangeas can hydrate through the petals so it is good to spray them to keep them fresh.

We're Here to Help!

If you have any following questions about any special care to a particular flower, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help you out.