August 15, 2023, 9:06 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Whether freshly picked from the garden or selected at the florist, bouquets enhance any home. myHOMEBOOK consulted various experts for tips on how to keep cut flowers fresh longer.
Flowers can be expensive—especially when it comes to particularly large and lush bouquets. It’s all the more delightful when you can enjoy them for a long time. There are several tricks you can use. For instance, hot water is said to make cut flowers last longer. How this works is explained in this article.
Hot Water Keeps Cut Flowers Fresh
Hot water and cut flowers? A combination that sounds contradictory but actually works. However, it doesn’t mean the water in the vase should be hot. Quite the opposite. Before arranging flowers in a vase, it’s worth trimming the stems. Then the hot water comes into play. “It’s common practice among florists to briefly dip the stems in hot water,” says Eva Hofmann from the DLR Rheinpfalz. Now you can place the flowers in the vase as usual.
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Which Flowers Benefit from This Trick?
According to Hofmann, this method is suitable for woody or very firm cut flowers like hydrangeas and sunflowers. “This is supposed to ensure good water absorption, as any air bubbles escape from the stems,” explains the expert. Gottfried Röll from the Bavarian Garden Academy adds: “The method with warm water is known for sap-bearing cut flowers, such as daffodils and poinsettias.”
Ruth Bredenbeck from the Garden Academy Thuringia agrees: “Hot water is used to treat flower stems that contain milky sap.” She emphasizes not using boiling water. The hot water causes the milky sap to coagulate. “This prevents the sap from leaking and clogging the water-conducting vessels,” says Bredenbeck. Hofmann from DLR Rheinpfalz mentions a widespread trick that at least doesn’t harm hard-stemmed flowers. “It doesn’t work for soft cut flowers like gerberas, anemones, or tulips,” the expert notes.
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More Tips to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
Besides hot water, there are other ways to keep cut flowers looking beautiful for as long as possible. Bredenbeck explains that a series of measures can help keep flowers fresh longer—starting with the cutting time, quick and continuous cooling, and proper care measures at the florist. Of course, you usually have no control over these, but the expert also has tips for flower buyers. “You can only keep fresh what is fresh. That’s why cut flower buyers should pay attention to the condition of the plants.” Additionally, Bredenbeck recommends the appropriate cut flower food.
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“Good vase hygiene is important for the longevity of cut flowers,” adds Hofmann. The expert lists that this includes daily water changes, cleaning the vase, and trimming the stems. There should be no leaves in the water, as they may rot. A cool location is also recommended.