How to make cut flowers last longer

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Cut flowers are an easy way to lift and liven up your home. But at times appear to have a surprisingly short shelf life. The secret to keeping these flowers looking good for the longest time possible is to minimise the bacteria growth and provide the nourishment to replace what the flowers would have gotten had they not been cut. But how do you make cut flowers last even longer?

Tips to keep cut flowers for longer

Wash your vase thoroughly

You should be sure to wash your vase carefully with hot water and a small-cap of bleach with a sponge.

You should avoid using a towel when drying the vase and instead you should try to let the vase dry naturally upside down.

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Cut the flowers carefully

Cut flowers will last for a longer duration of time if the stems are prepared correctly, helping them to take up water quickly.

You should try to cut about half an inch from the end of flowers at a 45-degree angle.

For the best results, you should try to use sharp scissors and try cutting the stems underwater, for instance, a sink filled with cold water.

By cutting the stems beneath the water, you will prevent air getting into the veins in the stem of your flower.

Fill your vase

You then place your cut flowers with the stems in deep water and leave them there for a few hours.

After that period of time has passed, you should move them into shallow water.

Once you have filled up your vase completely, you should be sure to remove all the leaves from the part of the stem which is beneath the water as it will help the flowers stay fresh and keep the water clean.

To prevent an airlock, you can also pierce the stems with a needle a few times.

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Use flower food

Flower food is one of the best ways to keep your flowers looking fresh for as long as possible.

To make the best use of the flower food you should add a sachet of it into the vase of your water and wait until it is dissolved, stirring it quickly to ensure it is mixed in well.

If your flowers did not come with flower food, you can make your own using the following: one teaspoon of household sugar, one teaspoon of clear unscented household bleach and two teaspoons of lemon or lime juice.

You should mix these ingredients with 60ml of warm water and stir the mixture until it is fully dissolved.

You can use the following alternatives instead of flower food

Lemonade

Fizzy lemonade helps to nourish plants and allows blossoms to last longer.

Other fizzy drinks will also work, but if you are using a clear vase it would be best to keep the liquid clear as well.

You can also use:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Aspirin
• Bleach
• Coins
• Sugar.

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