Flower care secrets: Tips from the pros to make your Valentine’s roses last longer

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Flower care secrets: Tips from the pros to make your Valentine’s roses last longer

February 05, 2008

Before I tell you the secrets, I’d like to ask: Has anyone noticed that gorgeous, fresh-cut flowers are a bit like a really nice meal?

The other night I took a friend out for a birthday dinner at an Italian restaurant in our neighborhood. I had the most delicious fish, beautifully presented – Dover sole covered with paper-thin slices of potato, green & yellow zucchini, cherry tomatoes and a few crumbles of Parmesan cheese. The cheerful color and layered texture created a visual riff on the fish, which I promptly gobbled down.

It was a splurge, yes, but so delightful and the stuff good memories are made of. That’s how I feel about flowers, especially roses. Perfect form, stunning color, fragrance nothing short of divine. And it isn’t just pretty petals sitting in a vase – it’s the enjoyment of giving or receiving a little work of art – just like that Italian dinner.

Anyway… now I’ll cut to the chase, and share some tips for prolonging the life of these dazzling blooms.

Red flowers outside

Snacks for the stems. Myths abound re: giving flowers perk-ups from your kitchen cupboards: crushed aspirin, soda, putting a penny in the vase. One of the Teleflora experts tells me: “Most florists deliver their arrangements in pre-treated water, which stays fresh for about 1-2 days.” After that, commercial flower food can help nourish hungry bouquets.

Cut! And rewater. She adds that: “The best thing to do when caring for an arrangement is to recut the stems every few days and to put fresh water in the vase daily. Not just top it off, but completely change the water every day.” Thoroughly clean the container, add fresh, room-temperature water and, if you have it, fresh food. Cut the stems at an angle.

Draw the line. Make sure there is no foliage below the water line. This will prevent bacteria from growing and help keep flowers fresher, longer.

Beat the heat. Keep them away from heating vents or windows that have direct sunlight. Don’t put them on top of televisions or radiators. Most flowers prefer temperatures between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius).

Opening up. Roses last longer in a cool area, but if you want blooms to open quickly, temporarily put them in a warmer spot (not hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit.)

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