A beautiful bouquet looks good in any room or event. Although cut flowers don’t last forever, you can make yours last a little longer. You can make your flowers look as good as when you bought them from your favorite florist in the UAE. You can enjoy your blooms for up to a week if you care for them.
What Causes Wilting in Cut Flowers
Most blooms wilt due to a lack of minerals, water, or both. Cut flowers wilt and die after a few days. Cutting a flower shocks its system. The blooms are cut from their roots abruptly, which is how they absorb nutrients and water from the soil. The flower responds by closing off the tissue stem to prevent any more nutrients and water loss.
When you place a flower in water, it starts to absorb the liquid, but as it does, so there are no nutrients to absorb. A lack of minerals means that the blooms cannot transform sugar into energy; this causes them to droop.
Did you know that cut flowers stop absorbing water after a while? They lack energy for this process. Water stops flowing into the cells, causing the flower to wilt. The petals wilt first, then the tips of the leaves, followed by the leaves, and then the stem, which causes the plant to die.
How to Prevent Wilting in Cut Flowers
Nothing is more refreshing than a beautiful bouquet in the office, reception area, or whatever space you choose to decorate. However, cut flowers can wilt quickly, that is why we have compiled these tips to help your bouquets last longer.
Choose Long-Lasting Flowers
Did you know that some cut flowers don’t last long because they have thin or delicate petals? Before ordering from your favorite florist for the fast delivery of your bouquet, consider the flowers you want.
Some varieties outlive others. For instance, orchids can live up to 3 weeks, carnations up to 2 to 3 weeks, peonies 1 to2 weeks, etc. Other long-lasting flowers include sunflowers, lilies, daisies, roses, and chrysanthemums. It is crucial to talk to your florist about the type of flowers you want and suggestions on other long-lasting blooms.
Cut the Stems
The best way to make your blooms last long is by keeping them hydrated. As soon as you receive your fast delivery from your florist, hold the bouquet stems under warm running water and then use sharp scissors or prunes to cut off the ends of the stems at an angle. Try to cut at a 45 degrees angle to create a large surface area that allows enough water absorption.
Without an adequate water supply, your bouquet will droop and wilt or drop the petals prematurely. Avoid using blunt tools because they can crush the delicate stems. It’s also necessary to recut the stems whenever you change the water or every 2 to 3 days.
Hydration
Hydration is the key to maintaining the vibrance and life of your bouquet. However, the longer the water stays in the vase, the more it attracts bacteria. They accumulate at the end of the stems and block water uptake. Without water, the blooms wilt and die. Change the water often, at least every other day. Avoid underwatering or overwatering; both can kill your blooms.
Always Use a Clean Vase
Always start with a clean vase. Do not just wipe a dusty vase and use it for your bouquet. Wash your vases on the outside and inside with warm soapy water, and then remove the suds by rinsing thoroughly.
Cleaning the vases eliminates bacteria that might kill your flowers. You can use any vase; however, a vase that fits all the stems is suitable. Shoving or crowding the stems in a narrow vase can bruise or damage them.
Flower Food
Apart from getting a fast delivery, ordering from a reputable florist guarantees you a packet of flower food. It has many benefits that are not present in ordinary tap water. The flower food contains nutrients and pH balancers to help resists stem and cell deterioration and restore equilibrium.
The quick aging caused by the cutting of the blooms is slowed down. The flowers develop naturally, and bacteria do not invade the water. Alternatively, you can add a drop of bleach to kill bacteria.
Avoid Specific Spots
Your bouquets will last longer if you place them in the right spots. Avoid place the flowers near fruits, especially bananas, because they produce ethylene gas. It compromises the quality of your flowers.
Ethylene gas causes the blooms to mature faster, drop their leaves and petals, and die prematurely. It is also essential to place your flowers away from direct sunlight and drafts; this can cause wilting due to excess water loss.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary; remove all the foliage below the water line to prevent decay, dirty water, and bacteria. Some blooms like roses have guard petals; remove these to allow your bouquet to open fully.
Check your bouquet daily for any dead or dry leaves and remove them before they affect other foliage. This is important, especially if you have different types of flowers in your bouquet because they have different blooming times.
The Right Vase
You cannot use the same vase for different types of flowers. The shape and height of vase matter, and it makes a difference on how your bouquet looks and how long it lasts. For instance, just because you bought peonies and they have long stems does not mean you should use a tall vase.
If you have heavy blooms, cut the stems short and display them in a low vase; this way, the flowers support each other when they open and have enough room to thrive. Place your lighter and more delicate flowers in tall vases. Also, avoid overcrowding the vase.
A bouquet of flowers can be refreshing and uplifting, but the blooms do not last forever. However, you can prevent wilting and dying prematurely. You can get the freshest bouquets and different flower types at BloomingBox.