Valentine's Flower Care
As Valentine’s rolls around the corner I figured I write a little about some floral care. If you didn't know, I worked for a brief time as a full-time floral designer. This means I have been studying and learning more about those plants and flowers you get from loved ones, and how to keep from killing them on day two! Before working more fully in floral industry, I definitely wasn't sure how to best take care of the bouquets I would get. So, I figured I would make a little tip sheet for you all.
Tips and Tricks
GIVE EM' A FRESH TRIM:
Fresh flowers can callous over, particularly roses, so it is really helpful for flowers to give them a fresh cut every few days. Just pull them out, give them a trim, and then they can keep on keepin’ on!
THE TRIMMING STRATEGY:
I know this may sound silly, but there actually can be strategy in cutting flowers. Some say it is best to use a knife to trim them, but being the the klutz I am, I normally just use scissors. When cutting them though, it can be best to cut at an angle so that the flowers can have more surface area to bring up water.
H20:
Give your flowers some fresh water every couple of days, or essentially whenever the container is close to empty or simply looks gross. Fungus and stuff like that can build up in gross water, so it is always good to try to give them a fresh drink.
PLANT FOOD:
If you get food for your plants, it can have a huge impact. The little packets you get with some arrangements can be really beneficial for extending the life of your flowers. However, you shouldn’t mix it in with just any arrangement, because some actual plants don’t like it.
Sunshine:
Cut flowers can last a long time, but remember that they are plants like any other flower you would find! Therefore be sure to put them in a place that gets some nice sunshine to keep them alive.
VASE/CUBES Still need water:
If you get an arrangement in a weird shape, they may have used floral foam to create this! This may make it seem like it doesnt’ need water but it does need to be refilled just the same as a vase would. I know it looks different, but the foam arrangements needs to be watered as well!
Daisey Hack
If you have ever received daisies as flowers, you might know that you often encounter of them not keeping their shape (as you can see in the photo to the right). Traditionally you can use floral wire to wire the stem. However, you may be like me and find yourself without that specific wire. Therefore you can use this hack with something you probably do have around your house… a paperclip!
Unfold the paper clip.
I actually only unfolded half of it, and use the bottom circle half to clip on to the stem.
Stick it into the base of the head of the flower.
Carefully twist it around the stem. They can be quite fragile, so carefully twist it around the stem to provide support.
I hope that some of those small tips can help you keep your lovely flowers alive this Valentine’s season! Fresh flowers are one of my favorite things and I love having them around the house. These few tips can help you keep them lasting longer and looking healthier! Know of more tips you would recommend? Leave it in the comments below!
