Cut flower care tips for summer

The summer season can be a real challenge when it comes to keeping cut flowers looking good. It doesn’t matter if you cut the flowers yourself or order them from a local or online florist, you always want them to last as long as possible. Here are some steps to follow to get the most out of your cut flower bouquet:

Step 1: Choose carefully

If you are picking the flowers yourself, make sure you select the correct flowers. For example, they should be between the bud and the fully open stage. This is because fully open flowers don’t have much longer left, and tightly closed buds may never open when cut. Also be careful and only select flowers that show no signs of damage. Damaged petals are not only unattractive, but these flowers are clearly coming out. If you’re ordering a cut flower bouquet from your florist, be sure to order them half open or ask the florist if you can pick them yourself.

Step 2: The right tools

Again, if you’re picking the flowers yourself, you’ll need to make sure you’re using a very sharp cutting tool. It can be a knife, scissors or shears. Regardless of which one you choose to use, they must be sharp so as not to crush and damage the stems. They also need to be cleaned and if you are harvesting from more than one plant make sure you clean your cutting tool before moving on to the next plant. This is to reduce the chance of spreading any disease among your plants. Keep a clean bucket of fresh water nearby and drop each cut flower into the water as you harvest them. That way, you can take your time and not have to worry about them getting dehydrated.

Step 3: Keep them hydrated

Whether you pick the flowers yourself or buy them from the florist, you’ll want to keep your cut flower arrangement in water as you prepare a vase. Make sure your vase is really clean and then add water and floral preserve.

Step 4: Removing the excess

Strip the stems of any excess leaves. Once the stems are placed in the vase, no leaves should be below the waterline. This is because the bacteria grow on the stems and leaves, so you need to reduce the surface area on which the bacteria can grow.

Step 5: Trim your stems

Trim the stems of each cut flower under water so that no air gets into the stems. Cut them at an angle so they don’t lay flat on the base of the pot.

Step 6: Let them soak it up

Arrange the stems in the vase and store them in a cool, dark place so that they absorb as much water as possible. A few hours should be enough. If you are giving your flowers to somebody special, try leaving them overnight and have the flowers delivered the next morning.

Step 7: Enjoy the display

You can now display your cut flower arrangement, but remember to change the water every few days and check the bases of the stems in case they need more pruning. Keep the bouquet out of the sun, wind and air conditioners. Many flowers thrive with a little extra moisture, so sprinkle them gently with a little water every now and then to keep them crisp and fresh.

With these essential cut flower care tips, you can be sure that you will always get the most out of every bloom. As you can see, proloning the life of your summer bouquet involves making the right choice in blooms as well as proper care.