Cut flower care mistakes

Over time, fresh cut flowers have been handled in many different ways. It’s thanks to trial and error that we have managed to discover what keeps them happy and fresh. Even flower experts years ago offered some advice that we no longer follow. Which is why it’s always good to keep up with the latest tips and tricks regarding cut flower care.

The first thing to do is take care when choosing a mixed bouquet of flowers. Many flowers look great together but they might not like each other very much. Daffodils, for example, emit a kind of latex from their stems and this latex causes damage to the rest of the flowers in your vase. If you still want to use daffodils in a mixed flower arrangement, you can simply place them on their own in a bucket of water for at least 12 hours before adding them to your mixed bouquet. There is also a special kind of flower preserve that you can use to protect your other blooms from the latex that seeps out of daffodil stems.

Years ago, many people believed that smashing flower stems would help them last longer. This is far from the truth and actually does more harm than good. If the stems are crushed, it puts stress on the flower and it makes it tough to absorb water. So, instead of crushing the stems, you should use a sharp knife or pair of scissors to prevent crushing. Some people believe that piercing the stems of tulips helps them last longer but this can damage the flower much like crushing the stems. If you are worried about drooping tulips, try supporting the stems with floral wire and tape or something similar.

Regardless of these common mistakes, there are still a lot of guidelines that most people can agree upon. These include keeping your fresh flower arrangement away from heaters, air conditioners, fans, and direct sunlight. All of these factors can cause your flowers to perish prematurely.

Finally, don’t forget to keep fresh fruit a fair distance from your fresh flowers. As lovely as they might look together, certain fruits release ethylene gas which causes other fruit and flowers to perish. Dying flowers also release this gas which is why you should remove wilting blooms as soon as you notice them.