Flowers are a beautiful addition to any space – from offices, to hospitals and homes. However, if you have had flowers in your space, you know that they start to wither a few days after buying them and it can be quite pricey to replace them so often. Additionally, keeping them in water can only do so much to ensure your flowers stay fresh. If you want to make them last longer, there are some hacks that you can try. Here are some.
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Choose The Right Vase Size
Choosing the right vase is the first step to keeping your flowers fresh for longer. If the opening is too narrow, the flower will not only look cramped or squished but also will not get enough oxygen. Additionally, if the opening of your vase is too wide, the arrangement will not have any form or shape. For beginners, a large and tall vase is the best fit since it allows enough space and you don’t have to trim the flowers too much. You can also ask a florist to help you decide.
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Use A Clean Vase
Flowers thrive on cleanliness. Therefore, you should ensure that your vase is sparkling clean before putting flowers in it. Even when changing the water, make sure you clean the vase before putting clean water in it. You can disinfect the vase with bleach and water. However, a simple soap and water will do the trick as well. Using bleach ensures that your vase is extremely clean. You should do this any time you want to use the vase whether it was previously in use or not since even a small amount of dust is enough to clog those stems.
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Add Apple Cider Vinegar To The Water
Apple cider vinegar is a great fertilizer and is commonly used in kitchen gardens to maintain healthy plants. It also helps keep cut flowers fresh for longer. However, you should avoid adding it directly to the water. Mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar with the vase of water before adding the flowers. Change the water every few days to enhance your flowers’ longevity. Gardening: Homemade Fertilizer For A Kitchen Garden
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Use Lukewarm Water
The water temperature plays a key role in keeping flowers fresh. Using the correct water temperature ensures that there are fewer air bubbles that clog the stems and prevent water and nutrients from moving freely. It’s, therefore, necessary to know the best water temperature for your flowers. Generally, lukewarm water is ideal as it speeds up the movement of water up the plant stems. Bulb flowers are the exception as they prefer cold water to lukewarm water.
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Arrange Your Flowers
Flower arrangements should be as practical as they are beautiful. Make sure you don’t overstuff your vase. Give them enough room to bloom. Additionally, the stems should be the same height to ensure that all your flowers are below the water line but not too deep in the water. It’s recommended to keep flowers an inch deep in water since they are only able to absorb water near the base of their stems, so there’s no need to fill the vase with water.
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Keep Them Away From Fruit
Have you ever noticed that all the fruits in your fruit bowl ripen and go bad at the same time? This is because fruits produce a gas known as methylene which stimulates maturation. The gas not only affects other fruits but also flowers. Therefore, if you put them next to ripening fruits, they are more likely to wither faster since the gas affects their survival abilities significantly. So, to keep them fresh, you should place them as far from fruits as possible.
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6 Ways To Preserve Your Flowers At Home
