Flowers + Plants 101

Prolonging the Vase Life of Your Flowers

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Lucky you--your new BloomsyBox has arrived and it's time to unbox the goods! Hooray! Now what? You want the blooms to last as long as possible--how can you do that, though?

Close-up view of a beautiful bouquet of fresh pink peonies and white tulips wrapped in brown kraft paper, showcasing delicate petals and floral elegance.

Although different types of flowers have different "vase life" lengths, there are definitely things you can do to prolong the life of your blooms. Read on for a few tips!

Remove leaves Before you hydrate your new flowers, be sure to remove the leaves. Leaving leaves on the stems that will be immersed in water is a no-no. This is due to the fact that they can lead to bacteria in the water which is a sure-fire way to reduce the vase life of your flowers. Leaving leaves on the parts of the stems that are not immersed in water is fine.

Cut stems at a slight angle Before placing the flowers in the vase, remember to cut the stems. If you clip the stems at an angle, it can help to prolong vase life. This is because cutting them at a 45 degree angle helps the flowers to soak up more water through their stems.

Hydrate immediately It may seem like a no-brainer, but we'd be remiss without recommending you hydrate your new blooms immediately. Don't leave them in the sink or somewhere else - these needs to be hydrated immediately. Sometimes blooms will look a bit dry or wilted before you put them in water--however, you will find that after 24 hours of hydrating, they will perk up and be their true gorgeous selves!

Pour in flower food Although it is not completely proven, it is a good idea to use the flower food provided in your BloomsyBox -- you may want to just use half and save the other half for when you change the water.

Change water every day One of the best ways you can make your fresh flowers last longer is to make sure you change the water every single day. Dumping old water and adding clean, cold water every day will prevent bacteria to grow, and give your blooms nice, fresh water to drink up!

Don't place in a very hot or very cold spot Many people don't know that placing your fresh flowers under an air conditioning or heating vent, in direct sunlight, or in any other area in your home that may have especially hot or cold temperatures can greatly reduce vase life. Make sure to place your blooms somewhere with temperatures that are not too extreme.

Clip stems every day Cutting the stems of your flowers a tiny bit every day is another way you can avoid the spread of bacteria in the water. Just clip a tiny bit and cut at a 45 degree angle.

Floral foam If you plan on doing a more elaborate arrangement, consider floral foam. This will make your arrangement last a few days longer. Make sure to soak it for an hour or so before using. Also, it's a smart idea to wear gloves when using floral foam since the foam has chemicals in it. To make sure the foam stays moist, add water every day.

Now that we've given you a few tips on how to keep your new bouquet fresh, go forth and hydrate! Enjoy those blooms!

It may seem like a no-brainer, but we'd be remiss without recommending you hydrate your new blooms immediately. Don't leave them in the sink or somewhere else - these needs to be hydrated immediately. Sometimes blooms will look a bit dry or wilted before you put them in water--however, you will find that after 24 hours of hydrating, they will perk up and be their true gorgeous selves!

A person's hands arranging colorful roses in shades of yellow, orange, and red on a white table, with green bowl and florist supplies in the background.