How to keep a bouquet of flowers fresh longer?

Before placing your bouquet in a vase, we recommend trimming the stems at an angle, cutting 1-2 centimeters off. It's best to use a clean knife for this. Pruning shears or scissors could crush the stems and shorten the life of your flowers.

Next, choose the right vase. For your flowers to bloom as long as possible, your vase should be at least one-third the length of the stems. This allows for optimal air circulation to keep your flowers fresh. The vase should be clean and filled with plenty of fresh water. Remove any submerged leaves from the base of the bouquet to prevent the water from spoiling.

What should you add to the water to make your bouquets last longer? There are several solutions. The most economical is to dissolve a pinch of sugar or baking soda in the water. Your flowers will absorb the necessary nutrients from this. Another method is to use a cut flower preservative.

Don't hesitate to change the water in your vase every two days. This is essential if you want to keep your bouquet fresh as long as possible. When you do, trim the stems of your flowers and add more preservative. Note: the water should be at room temperature to avoid damaging your flowers.

Also, be sure to keep your bouquet away from any heat source, bright light, and drafts. At night, place your bouquet in a cool spot, such as on a balcony. If the vase is in the kitchen, avoid placing it near ripe fruit, which releases ethylene and can accelerate the ripening process, thus shortening the bouquet's lifespan.

What water level is needed for each flower?

Not all flowers need the same amount of water, but most require a more or less "normal" water level, meaning about half the vase should be filled. It's simply a matter of remembering the few flowers that require specific care:

Roses appreciate a large volume of water; their stems should be submerged to about two-thirds. Fill the vase with room temperature water, or even warm rather than cold.

Bulb flowers—tulips, anemones, ranunculus, calla lilies—need very little water. Just fill the bottom of your vase, as too much water will cause the stems to rot. However, they drink a lot, so you'll need to add more water every day.

Poppies generally arrive with their stems cauterized to prevent bacterial growth. Do not cut them! If you have done so, burn the ends of the stems with a lighter to coagulate the juice.

How to make a dried flower bouquet?

Before your flowers wilt, and to preserve a bouquet from a special occasion (30th birthday, wedding, etc.) for a lifetime, you can dry your bouquet. How? Tie the flowers together with string and hang them upside down in a dark place or in complete darkness. A few days or weeks later, depending on the type of flower, your bouquet will be dry.