"Tips for Making Your Flowers Last Longer and Stay Beautiful After Receiving Them from Your Husband"

2019.02.17 published

It's the worst to let them wither right away.

When your husband gives you flowers, you want to display them beautifully for as long as possible, right? ♡

It's such a wonderful thought to receive "flowers as a gift," but if you carelessly handle them and let them wither... a lazy person might even be told,

"You no longer have the right to receive flowers!" (from the flower gods!)

So, what measures can you take to make cut flowers last longer?

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ① Change the water

The easiest and most important thing to make cut flowers last longer is to "change the water regularly!"

If left alone, bacteria will grow in the water. Flowers absorb water, so if you don't change it, they will be taking up water full of bacteria...!

Make sure to change the water at least once a day, and in hotter or more humid conditions like summer or rainy seasons, try to change it 2-3 times a day. ◎

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ② Keep the stems freshly cut

Cutting the stems ("cutting water" or "water uptake") is also necessary for making them last longer.

The biggest reason cut flowers wither is due to lack of water. The freshness of the cut ends of the stems declines rapidly from the moment you cut them, losing their ability to absorb water.

Therefore, by cutting off the old ends and making new ones, they can absorb water again. *

Here are two key points for cutting:

☑ Cut under water

☑ Cut at an angle

☑ Use sharp scissors

Cutting under water prevents air from entering the vascular tissue of the stem, cutting at an angle increases the surface area exposed to water, and using sharp scissors helps avoid crushing the vascular tissue. ◎

It's best to do the cutting as often as possible, ideally every day. *

@haruno45

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ③ Remove leaves and shorten stems

To prolong the life of cut flowers, it's effective to remove unnecessary leaves and shorten the stems.

If there are many leaves or if the stems are long, nutrients will also go to the leaves and stems, and the important flowers will receive less nourishment.

It's recommended to remove excess leaves and to cut excessively long stems (but leave enough length for water uptake).

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ④ Reduce the number of blooms

When displaying cut flowers, reducing the amount is also a tip for making them last longer.

If you put too many flowers in one vase, the flowers and leaves will touch and become prone to damage, and the enclosed space in the vase will get humid, making it easier for bacteria to grow.

So, when you receive a bouquet, try to divide the flowers into smaller arrangements and place them in a wide-mouthed vase. ♩

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ⑤ Use preservatives

Flower-specific preserving solutions or preservatives have sterilizing properties that help cut flowers last longer. *

Preserving solutions or preservatives usually cost just a few dozen yen for one use. Buying a bottle to keep at home sounds like a good idea. ◎

Detergents, bleach, dishwashing liquid, and similar substances may have the same components (a few drops are sufficient).

However, since some ingredients may not be good for the flowers, it's generally safer to use specific preservatives. *

Tips for making cut flowers last longer ⑥ Put them in the fridge during summer

Lastly, a recommendation is to keep them in the fridge during the day when no one is home in the summer.

The optimal temperature for flowers is said to be 15-17°C. However, indoor temperatures can rise to around 30°C during summer days. That heat could cause them to wilt...!

Flowers can withstand cold better than heat, so it's best to keep them in the fridge when you’re not home during summer days. ◎

Enjoy the flowers you received beautifully for a long time ♡

I introduced six ways to make cut flowers last longer. *

Since you received flowers, you want to enjoy them in as beautiful a state as possible for as long as you can. ♡

Changing the water and cutting the stems may require some effort to maintain their initial condition, but if the flowers your partner gave you bloom beautifully every day, it will surely bring you happiness. *