How to make cut flowers last longer naturally

Making cut flowers last longer is a tricky task. They are fickle beasts! Often times, even with the utmost care, you’ll find the petals wilt too quickly. You’ve probably already tried a few tricks with varying levels of success, such as regularly changing the water and keeping them away from heat sources. This is why Batmaid has set out to find out exactly what you can do to keep those flowers fresh longer!

Here are our top 5 tips to keep your cut flowers alive longer by recreating their natural habitats:

Don’t cut the stems of the flowers too short

Each type of flower has a natural stem length that allows it to absorb the necessary amount of nutrients that it needs to develop. As such, try to keep the stem as close to the original length as possible, which will allow it to properly feed itself. If one of your flower stems starts to turn brown, remember to cut it at an angle about 3 cm above the afflicted area. Use a sharp utensil when doing so to ensure a clean cut and avoid crushing the stem.

Cut off any leaves that come into contact with the water

For aesthetic reasons, florists will sometimes decide to leave leaves that are lower down the stem intact. Before you place your bouquet into a vase filled with water, ensure that you remove any leaves that would find themselves submerged. The reason for this is that, as those leaves decompose in the water, they contaminate the water for the other flowers and cause them to wither and die. Be careful not to cut all the leaves, as the flower needs them to absorb the sun’s energy and feed itself.

Place the flowers in an opaque vase

Using an opaque vase will prevent sunrays from altering the temperate and pH of the water, which will make it more balanced. Speaking of vases, you should try to use an oval-shaped vase, as it will be able to contain enough water to feed your flowers whilst keeping them upright.

Feed cut flowers naturally

Flowers require a multitude of nutrients in their natural habitats. The most important nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

• Nitrogen is very important during the growth phase of the flowers and helps the foliage to develop.
• Phosphorus helps plants to develop their roots, flowers and fruits.
• Potassium promotes better sap circulation and helps the plant to absorb nutrients from the soil.

Once the flower blooms, it no longer requires nitrogen. From that point onwards it will only need phosphorus and potassium. The good news is that these nutrients can be found very easily in your compost waste. For example, bananas and avocados are naturally both rich in phosphorus and potassium.

To make cut flowers last longer, you can replace the water in your vase with the following natural mixture:

*If you don’t have any banana or avocado waste, you can check out the nutrients contained within your compost at aprifel.com. Any other organic fruit or vegetable that is naturally rich in phosphorus and potassium but low in nitrogen can be used.

Move the bouquet to a cool place at night

Just as your flowers need natural light during the day, they also need a cool environment at night. Try to remember to put them outside on summer evenings or in a cooler part of your house the rest of the year.

So, there you have it, you can now make cut flowers last a few more days using natural means thanks to these Batmaid tips.

Do you have any tips for keeping flowers alive for longer? Let us know!