How to Make a Bouquet Live Longer: Top Tips from Florists

We’ve put together a small guide with the most effective tips to help you enjoy the look of your gifted bouquet for as long as possible.

Why Flowers Wilt

Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots, which then travels through the stem’s capillaries, carrying nutrients to the leaves and the bud. Cut flowers lose this capability. They quickly lose moisture, and toxins accumulate in the cells. Essentially, wilting is a natural aging process that also happens to flowers in soil—but at a much slower pace.
Therefore, it’s crucial to immediately provide cut flowers with proper nourishment, i.e., place them in water. But there are a few tricks that we’ll cover in more detail.

Flowers Need Clean Water

Toxins from the stems get into the water, where bacteria start to multiply. As a result, within a few days, the water in the vase becomes toxic. It’s recommended to change the water daily or, at the very least, every two days. The vase should also be washed, and its inner walls wiped with a baking soda solution.

How to Care for the Stems of Cut Flowers

Florists recommend trimming the stems by about one centimeter daily because the old cut eventually stops absorbing water. Moreover, it’s better to update the stem cut underwater; otherwise, the capillaries close immediately, reducing water absorption.
Another tip is to cut the stems diagonally, rather than straight across, as this increases water intake. You can also make multiple cuts at the end of the stem—a method to use when the stems have become too short to trim further.
Leaves on the part of the stem submerged in water should be removed, as they will rot and spoil the water quality.

How to Nourish a Bouquet

Water alone is not enough for flowers; they need nutrients, which are sold in flower shops. However, you can also use everyday items:

• Sugar helps keep the capillaries in the stem from closing too quickly, allowing flowers to absorb more water (not suitable for lilies of the valley).
• Aspirin tablets, a teaspoon of alcohol, or salt can keep the water clean and kill bacteria.
• Citric acid or vinegar can soften hard water.
• Some people believe adding mineral water to the vase is beneficial, but we don’t recommend it—it can cause gas bubbles to form in the stems, which may cause the flowers to die quickly.

Temperature Regime

Most flowers prefer cool water (except tulips, which prefer it even colder; florists recommend adding ice cubes to their vases). The room air shouldn’t be too warm either, with an ideal temperature of 18-20°C.
Cut flowers do not like direct sunlight, so it’s better not to place them on a windowsill.

Harmful Fruits

A bouquet looks lovely next to fruit—a classic still-life setting. Unfortunately, this proximity doesn’t benefit the bouquet; fruits release ethylene, which harms flowers.

Cold Water Bath

To prolong the life of a wilting bouquet, a cold bath can help—place the flowers in it for several hours, and they’ll feel refreshed. This method works especially well for roses, which can be left in a cold bath overnight.

We hope these florists’ tips help you preserve your bouquet and the joy it brings for as long as possible!