How You Can Prevent Your Freshly Cut Flowers From Dying

Flowers add beauty to a home or a place of work. But when they die, the beauty dies too, and hence, it is your responsibility to keep the flowers alive for as long as possible. Freshly cut flowers in particular require more attention since their life is affected by a loss of food supply and a limited ability of consuming water. Also, if flowers fail to take in water at the same rate in which they are losing the water, they will suffer from wilting. The following tips show you how you can prevent your flowers from dying.

Trimming the Stem

You should first ensure that your flowers are well groomed. Use a sharp knife to trim the lower stem by a margin of about half an inch. Cut the stem at a slanted angle so that a larger surface area can be exposed. The more the exposure the higher the rate of water absorption

Hardening the Flowers

The next move is to harden the flowers, a step that promises a longer-lasting freshness. You harden the flowers by placing the stems in water that has heated to about 45.3 degree Celsius. Then leave them to cool for two hours in a cool area. Hardening also speeds up the water intake process through the stems.

Preserving the Flowers With Hairspray

Not only can hairspray do wonders on your hair, but also on your flowers. Take the flowers out of their vase and spray the underside of their petals. When you are through, hang them in an upside down position to dry. Then return them in the vase. Remember that hairsprays are made up of chemicals; hence hold the can at a good distance from you when spraying.

Cautionary Tips

There are things you should not do when you are dealing with flowers. One is that you should not position the flowers near appliances such as computers and TVs. These appliances generate heat which may dehydrate the flowers. Another issue is mixing flowers and fruits. Do not do it. Some fruits such as bananas and apples produce ethylene gas which may rot your flowers.

Feeding the flowers is just as important as hardening or preserving them. Lemon lime soda is one of the ingredients that you can add to your flowers' daily menu to ensure a healthy life for the flowers. Feed your flowers with a mixture of lemon lime soda (one cup), household bleach (half a teaspoon), and water (one cup). If the flowers appear thirsty for more, increase these liquids in the same proportions.

For more tips on preserving your fresh flowers, consider speaking to a local florist for more information.