This is a general care guide when purchasing flowers from Farmer’s Markets or cutting your own flowers from a garden.

Farm Markets

 Bunches and single cut stems need to be put into warm water as soon as possible.  If you have any intention of possibly purchasing flowers at a market, try to make sure you either bring a bucket of water to put them in, or drive directly home and do so. Flowers do not respond well to being jammed into a carry all and hauled around the market with their heads bobbing.  Nor do they enjoy being locked in the car for hours on end in the heat of summer. If you wouldn’t leave an animal or baby in the car, don’t leave your flowers. If it is hot this rule applies 100%. Flowers, even in water, do not enjoy sitting in a hot car (think boiling).

 Gardens

Always cut flowers in the cool of the early morning or close to sunset. Make sure you bring a container of water with you as you cut and place stems immediately into water. It is not a good principal to cut flowers once the day heats up. There are good sound biological principals for doing this, but this is a general care guide not a biology class. Many flowers also require specific after cutting requirements for helping them with their water uptake, but here too for practical purposes following the general instructions helps tremendously. The intention is to enjoy the flowers without a lot of science. If inquiring minds would like to know, email me and I can fill you in on the reasons why flowers last best under these specific conditions.

 Once you are Home

Before you put flowers in a vase, make sure you have a clean vase. The vase does not have to be filled to the top with water, but do make sure the water is warm(approx 100 degrees), not ice cold. Many flowers do not like water high on their stems (especially if the stems have fine small “hairs” covering them).

  Unwrap the flowers, removing any foliage that will be below the waterline. Then find a very sharp scissors or better yet flower shears.  If you use a dull cutting tool you run the risk of crushing the stems. Put warm water in a bowl or sink, placing the stems of the flowers under the water in the bowl or sink and cut the stems in the water about ½” from the bottom on a 45 degree angle. Many times you will see small air bubbles escaping. This is air trapped in the stem which may prevent the flow of water from reaching the head of the flower. Place the stem immediately after cutting in the bowl or sink into the vase.

Whether you use a commercial floral preservative or straight tap water, the most important aspect is to change the water frequently, re-cutting the stems as you did when bringing them home. Cloudy water is loaded with bacteria and clogs the stems of the flowers. A clean vase is very crucial to longevity as well as changing water, so wash the vase before putting in clean water and reinserting stems. Better yet have another clean vase ready to transfer the stems you have just re-cut.

 Make sure your flowers stay out of sunny hot locations, and keep them cool as possible.  Moving flowers to a basement or cooler location at night also increases longevity.