Cut Flowers

Caring for your fresh cut flowers!

When caring for fresh cut flowers, diligence is key. Flowers require care and attention to ensure that they last long past the day they are brought home from the store. Balanced, clean water and open stems are the most important factors to making fresh cut flowers last.

In order to understand how to care for freshly cut flowers, it is important to understand how flowers drink. Water is transported to the flower through the stem. The stem is filled with cells that function like an automatic drinking straw that will suck water as long as they stay submerged. If the stem is pulled out of the water, the stem forms an air bubble to keep air from getting sucked in. Once this air bubble is in place, the plant can no longer suck water and must be re-cut.

When cutting flowers use a sharp knife, clippers or shears and cut cleanly, being sure not to bend the stems as this will prohibit water movement. Household scissors are not recommended since they can easily crush the stems. Place the stems immediately in water.

Lukewarm water is best for fresh cut flowers since water molecules move faster when they are warm. The speed of the molecules allows it to be absorbed faster.

When flowers are purchased from the store, their stems should be re-cut about an inch (2.5 cm) or so above the old cut line to remove the air bubble. Foliage below the water line needs to be removed because it contributes to bacteria buildup. When placing the arrangement in the home, avoid direct sunlight and areas subject to constant breezes like those in front of a heater vent or air conditioner. The water should be changed every two or three days and stems re-cut to avoid the buildup of bacteria.

To further contribute to the life of freshly cut flowers, a balancing agent can be added to the water. The small packets usually provided by florists contain three things. First is a biocide, or chemicals that kill bacteria. Bacteria is a common killer of fresh cut flowers, second only to the absence of water. Also included is an acidifier to create acid and increase water uptake, and sugar to feed the plant.