With Mother’s Day just four days away, we know that there will be LOTS and LOTS of you getting flowers. I love the way they make the mansion look (and smell), so I like to keep them alive as long as possible. OrganicBouquet.com‘s CEO Robert McLaughlin has come to our rescue, with GREAT tips for keeping your Mother’s Day blooms beautiful…
Follow these steps to maximize the vase life of your flower delivery:
- Prepare a solution of warm water and a flower food packet, or mix 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice and 1 tbsp sugar per quart of water
- Fill a vase with the solution to within 1-2 inches of the rim
- Remove any leaves and foliage that would fall under the water line
- Cut each stem at about ½ inch from the bottom, at a 45 degree angle, with a sharp single blade knife or floral clippers
- Display arrangement in a cool location between 65-72 degrees and away from direct sunlight and heat or dehumidifying sources
More great tips:
- Roses have an outer layer called “guard petals” that keep the bloom tight and protect the flower during shipping. They may appear discolored or bruised – simply remove these petals and the rose will blossom over the next few days.
- Lilies will bloom over the course of several days. Remove the pollen to avoid staining. Pollen dust can be removed from the flower petals by lightly brushing with a pipe cleaner. Cut off expired lily blooms as blooms closer to the tip continue to open.
- Flowers need to be rehydrated after shipment. They will “perk up” after several hours of drinking when cared for according to the instructions above.
- Top off the water level daily
- Clean the vase, change the flower food solution and re-cut the stems every two days
CEO Robert McLaughlin is an expert on green business, the organic floral industry, using responsible growing practices and the benefits of buying organic, as well as the company’s eco-conscious and mission-based initiatives on farms in Haiti, Ecuador and Colombia.
Haven’t ordered your flowers yet? Organic Bouquet has beautiful eco-friendly florals.
Nichol says
Ahh great tips! Maybe they will help my flowers stay alive longer:) I love the substitution for the flower food
Tamara says
This is a great article. Do you have any tips on drying out flowers after they have outlived their lifespan and using the dried flowers for decorations? Thanks so much. Tamara 🙂
Tricia Nightowlmama says
thanks zippy I’ll remember these for my special mothers day flowers
Louise says
These are really great tips!
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy says
Great tips. Now maybe I’ll have better luck of keeping them looking their best longer.
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
Those are some great tips!
Zipporah says
Fresh flowers are just so beautiful, it’s a shame that they fade so quickly. I’m using those tips on my Mother’s Day flowers this year.
Zipporah says
Thank you Louise. It’s always so sad when I have to toss them out.
Zipporah says
Don’t you just wish that you could keep them fresh forever?
Zipporah says
I hope you get a BIG BEAUTIFUL bouquet. You deserve it.
Zipporah says
Tamara, I’ll look into that. Good idea.
Zipporah says
So do I, although I recently got flowers and they didn’t come with any.
Jenn @therebelchick says
I always throw a half cup of sprite or gingerale in my water for flowers! 🙂