Most people love flowers, whether at the office, home, or as a gift. Bouquets bring light to any home and leave a lasting impression in offices. Although you’ll receive fresh flowers from a florist in the UAE, you have to nurture them so they can last for at least a week. Cut flowers start to wilt because they are cut off from their source of nourishment. There are various ways to preserve flowers; however, you must first decide which flowers are right for you.
The Best Flowers for Your Desk or Office
Flowers can transform the workplace and boost productivity; however, not all plants are ideal for the office. African violets are popular in the workplace because they thrive in average temperatures and humility. They also don’t require natural light; they can even survive with a fluorescent lamp.
Oxalis are also common at the office; they turn a gloom room into a splash of color. Although some types act as lawn weeds, others can be cultivated. Volcanic sorrel Zinfandel has yellow flowers and deep purple leaves and does well in average humidity but requires bright light.
9 Tricks to Make Flowers Last Longer
Flowers are common in most offices and homes, but the sad reality is they don’t last forever. We know you love your bouquets; that’s why we’ve gathered these 9 tricks to help you preserve your flowers.
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Baking Soda
Almost every home has baking soda somewhere in the kitchen. It’s used around the house for various reasons, and it can also be used to prolong your flowers' life. Death is inevitable for flowers once cut off from the roots because they lack essential nutrients. You need to create a conducive environment for your online flower delivery to last long. If flowers are exposed to too high or low water acidity, they will die faster.
Baking soda is ideal for cut blooms because it creates neutrality; it’s not too acidic or alkaline. Ensure that you have a clean vase and water, remove any foliage beneath the waterline, and then add a teaspoon of baking soda into the water. Change this water only when necessary - if it gets dirty or cloudy.
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Vinegar and Sugar
Did you know that you can prolong the life of your bouquet by using vinegar and sugar? Cut flowers don’t get their nourishment from roots anymore; however, the stems' cut ends absorb nutrients from the water. This keeps them fresh for several days, but you can preserve them by adding sugars, which act as nutrients.
Sugar is the most vital addition to your plant; it’s rich in carbohydrates and continues to nourish plants even after they are cut off. It helps unopened buds to open and prolongs the lives of open flowers. You can use brown sugar, table sugar, or even soda (avoid diet soda, which is sugar-free). Vinegar is essential because it lowers the water’s pH, thereby extending the bouquet’s life.
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Hairspray
Hairspray is not only good for your hairstyle but also for preserving fresh blooms. Remove your bouquet from the vase to prevent them from sticking to it. Spray from a few inches away to avoid damaging the petals and then hang them upside down until they dry. Put your flowers back and reapply the spray as needed.
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Bleach
Bleach is another way to preserve your online flower delivery is by using bleach. Start with a clean vase and stems; trim any leaves below the waterline to prevent them from rotting in the water. The amount of bleach to add to the water depends on the size of the vase. A general rule is to add ¼ teaspoon of bleach for every quart of water. You can also mix one teaspoon of sugar with 3 drops of bleach per quart of water.
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Trimming
Although you buy already cut flowers, you need to snip the stems as soon as you receive your order. Like all living organisms, plants have a vascular system; it helps flowers to absorb water from the stem and distribute it all over the plant. Cutting at least an inch from the stems is crucial to prevent air blockage that happens during transportation. Submerge the flowers in water immediately after cutting.
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Water
Water is essential for maintaining the beauty of your flowers, but it can also cause demise. Hot water is one of the worst things you can use for your bouquet; it fries the flowers. Although room temperature water is crucial, using warm water is better because flowers readily absorb it than cold water. It also makes the blooms last longer. It’s also necessary to change the water every other day to prevent bacteria buildup.
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Flower Food
All online flower deliveries are made without their roots; this means that they are cut off from essential nutrients. Cut flowers benefit from flower food because it contains vital nutrients, water absorption promoters, and pH regulators. You can choose liquid or powder flower food.
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Choose the Right Vase
The vase is essential in preserving flowers; if it is too narrow, it might squish the stems, and if the mouth is too wide, your arrangement won’t take shape. When choosing a vase, ensure that the stems' length is not more than 1 ½ to twice the vase's height. The height is also crucial. You can choose various types of vases like column vases, hourglass vases, round vases, bud vases, etc.
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Where to Place them
Placing your floral arrangement in the right area is as important as watering them. Put them away from direct natural light in a cool area. Cool temperatures are essential for the preservation of the bouquet. It is also wise to keep your fresh online flower delivery away from fruits, especially apples and bananas because they produce ethylene gas, which is toxic to flowers.
Flowers look good on the first days after delivery, and then they start to wilt, but some people’s bouquets last for almost a week. The secret to keeping your blooms alive is to care for them by following the simple tricks above. Now that you know a few tricks for improving the longevity of your blooms, you should try some bouquets from our BloomingBox collection.