Did you sign up for a local flower share and want to make sure your beautiful blooms last as long as possible? Check out these flower care instructions from flower farmer, Shannon at Western Flora Co.
Flower Care Instructions
The flowers that you'll find in your bouquets come from diverse families in the plant kingdom. Local flowers are unique in that they are often related to native species that you’d never find at a grocer or commercial florist simply because they do not ship well and last for weeks, cut and out of water.
Some species of fresh cut flowers can last for several days - even weeks - in a vase (think strawflowers and echinacea) and even look great after they've dried or dropped their petals, while other flowers offer fleeting moments of beauty to be enjoyed to the fullest and fade quickly (think poppies and roses). If you embrace this concept, you can make the most of the flowers in your bouquet. For the best care of your flowers, here is what we recommend:
Get your flowers to a vase of fresh water, and a cool location as soon as possible after pick up (bring a jar or small bucket in your car or bike basket).
Once home, remove any wraps and bands and give the flowers a fresh cut (1-2 inches) and let them rehydrate in cool water for 30 minutes to an hour before arranging them in your vase.
Trim off any leaves that will sit below the water line in your vase (this keeps the water clean and extends the life of your flowers).
If you want to extend the vase life by two or three days more, give them a little flower food. Here are three options for homemade recipes:
1)
1 Qt Lukewarm Water (just warm enough to dissolve the sugar)
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
1 Tbs Sugar
¼ Tsp Bleach
2)
1 Qt Lukewarm Water (just warm enough to dissolve the sugar)
2 Tbs White Vinegar
2 Tbs Sugar
3)
1 Qt Lukewarm Water (just warm enough to dissolve the sugar)
½ Tsp Fruit-Fresh (in the canning and baking section at your grocer).
2 Tsp Sugar
Arrange your flowers! Start with the greenery and supporting flowers. Arrange in odd numbers for the most pleasing appearance. Cut different heights to add interest. Pick your favorite flower from the bouquet to add last in your arrangement. Highlight your favorites by grouping them in the vase or drawing attention to them with other supporting flowers. Have fun and don’t hesitate to start over if needed.
Place your arranged flowers in a cool spot in your home out of direct sunlight.
Remove spent flowers as they fade. Seedheads can be decorative too! If you like them, leave them.
Every two to three days, give the flowers fresh water and check stems, cut off any soggy looking stem bottoms.
As the flowers fade, move the remaining to bud vases, tie into a ribbon for a gift to a friend or wear one behind your ear!
SOS!!! What if your flowers got too hot and wilted on your way home? Try this - Cut the stems about two to three inches up from the bottom (you are looking for live green tissue) and place immediately into a container of cool water. Place your flowers in the *refrigerator* for an hour to cool and rehydrate. Anything that remains wilted will probably not revive. Discard wilted stems and arrange to your liking.
*Flowers such as Zinnias and Basil will not tolerate very cold temperatures. Do not leave these types of flowers in an overly cool refrigerator for over an hour.
Species of flowers that dry well:
Cut any soggy stem off flowers to be dried when you are ready to discard the rest of your bouquet and hang upside down to dry in a shady, dry place like a basement or garage.
Yarrow
Sunflowers
Poppy pods
Echinacea seed heads
Strawflower
Statice
Asters
Rose hips and petals
Grasses
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