The flowers are blooming! Gardens brimming with colorful pretties, summer gatherings, parties and festive weddings, this time of year being surrounded by fresh flowers is the norm, and one of my favorite things about it. It’s enviable we’ll be bringing fresh cut blooms into our homes this summer whether from the garden or leftover centerpiece from your friend’s wedding. Like most, I love keeping fresh flowers in the house, I would be surrounded by them constantly if I could.
Through summer and winter, I often have fresh flowers inside, especially from making florals for events, so I’ve learned a few tricks over the year on how to keep fresh cut flowers in your home and make them last longer too!
Flowers are known to brighten our days, even if you aren’t the biggest flowers person, so it would be a shame to have those lovely blooms wilt away or become discolored all too quickly! Follow these easy steps, to help keep your blooms stay fresh and beautiful longer….
Doesn’t this centerpiece just make you happy and feel good! I love the pretty and bright colors and fun textures from the floral arrangement I had made as part of a gift basket. I used seasonal flowers including the ultra lovely and delicate garden rose. It’s totally the focal point to this piece, and although a completely contrasting color to the whimsical yellow and soft white, the peachy earthy hue from the “Juliet” rose is the perfect colorful compliment to these summer shades.
This floral centerpiece is soft, pretty, effortless and beyond cheery, a perfect arrangement for your next summer party or Hostess/Host gift!! Get the Flower Recipe for this centerpiece below, then scroll down to properly take care of your fresh cut blooms while making them last longer…
CENTERPIECE BREAKDOWN
- Dusty Miller
- Yellow Solidago
- Yellow Yarrow
- Yellow Tulips
- White “Albatross” Mum
- White Spray Roses
- “Juliet” Garden Rose
CARING FOR YOUR FRESH CUT FLOWERS AT HOME
Step One
As soon as you get your flowers home, either from the store or from your online order, start prepping them right away for your vase.
Step Two
Prep your vases, or whichever containers you’re using, making sure it is clean. Fill a large jug or bucket with cool water and flower food according to directions. Allow to sit while you condition the flowers.
Don’t have flower food? Don’t worry! Here are some Natural Alternatives to Flower Food…
- Homemade Version : 1 quart Water + 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice + 1 tablespoon Sugar + 1/2 teaspoon Bleach
- Apple Cider Vinegar & Sugar : 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar + 1 teaspoon of Sugar to Water
- Lemon Lime Soda: One part Lemon-Lime Soda {Do not use Diet or other flavored sodas} to 3 parts water. The soda has the acid and sugar the flowers need to survive.
Step Three
Remove any foliage and leaves that will fall below the waterline, this will prevent molding. Give the stems a new cut, about and inch from the bottom, cutting on an angle.
TIP : Tulip ends get cut on a horizontal, while Hydrangeas get cut on an angle then snipped in the center to allow more hydration.
Immediately place flowers in fresh, clean and cool/room temperature water. Begin arranging your flowers in your vase as you desire.
Step Four
Replace the water in your vase every two days, or once you see the water become cloudy. Whenever you change the water also give your stems a fresh new cut.
Step Five
As the flowers bring to wilt and fade, remove them and rearrange the remaining stems.
If you follow these easy steps, your at-home floral arrangements should still be pretty a few extra days! What are your favorite Spring and Summer flowers?
Now excuse me while I venture into the garden to pick some more pretty blooms!
Leave a Reply