While there are many different ways to celebrate the special women in your life on Mother’s Day, sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers is among the most popular.
Yet even the most expensive bouquets won’t last more than a few days without proper care.
‘Flowers are one of the most beloved Mother’s Day gifts, and it’s disappointing that they don’t last longer than they do,’ says Julian de Bosdari, CEO of UK plant nursery Ashridge.
‘However, putting in the effort to take special care of cut flowers will both allow shoppers to get the best value for money, and recipients to enjoy their gift for as long as they possibly can.’
Fortunately, it is possible to ensure flowers last for a week or even longer. What matters the most, according to Julian, is preventing conditions that allow bacteria to flourish.
Even the most expensive bouquets won’t last more than a few days without proper care
He explained: ‘Keeping your bouquet clean, hydrated, nourished and out of the sun will go a long way in maintaining it, and eliminating nasty bacteria from its environment can help prevent the flowers deteriorating prematurely.’
Julian is also keen to remind fans of cut flowers that it’s possible to press or dry them once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan.
For those who are put off by the fleeting nature of cut flowers, Julian recommends a houseplant or garden flowers as ‘an equally beautiful alternative that your loved one will be able to enjoy for many years.’
Here, Julian shares his top tips for keeping flowers looking healthy and helping them to live longer…
Choose a long-lasting variety
One of the easiest ways to ensure that flowers will continue to brighten the room beyond a couple of days is to choose a naturally long-lasting variety.
Chrysanthemums, carnations and orchids are good examples of more durable varieties that can last for several weeks.
By contrast, more delicate varieties, such as tulips and peonies, have a vase life of around five days, and are likely to wilt much more quickly.
Since plastic vases often harbour bacteria due to the porous material, go for one that’s either glass or ceramic
Always start with a clean vase
It’s essential you place your flowers in a clean vase.
Vases with narrow openings are harder to clean, and are more likely to trap bacteria, which can contaminate the water and cause flowers to age and decompose more quickly, so look for a vase with a wide opening.
Since plastic vases often harbour bacteria due to the porous material, go for one that’s either glass or ceramic.
As well as being easier to clean, these kinds of vases will help your flowers make an even greater impact.
Trim flower stems at an angle
While the flowers in a bouquet have their stems pre-cut, they are likely to have closed up by the time you buy them.
It’s essential to cut half an inch off each stem at a 45-degree angle, using a clean knife or pair of sharp scissors, before setting your flowers in a vase.
Cutting the stems in this way increases the surface area for water absorption, helping your flowers to remain hydrated.
Continue to trim the stems every couple of days to give the flowers the best possible chance of absorbing water.
Remove foliage below the water line
Any leaves or petals submerged in the water in your vase need to be removed as they can promote bacterial growth.
In turn, bacteria can clog the stems, getting in the way of water absorption and shortening the lifespan of your flowers.
Keep any healthy foliage that is above the water line – it will help your bouquet to look full and vibrant.
Any leaves or petals submerged in the water in your vase need to be removed as they can promote bacterial growth
Keep flowers out of sunlight and away from fruit
Keep flowers out of direct sunlight as it can cause wilting. Direct sun and intense heat can also make buds to bloom more quickly, shortening the bouquet’s lifespan.
Instead, choose a cool environment, with plenty of indirect light for your flowers.
It’s also important to keep flowers away from the fruit bowl, as ripening fruit, such as bananas and apples, produce an odourless gas called ethylene, which causes flowers to age and drop petals more quickly.
Change the vase water regularly
Make sure the water in your vase is clean, and change it often to remove any bacteria. While this can usually be done every two days, it’s worth doing it daily for more delicate flowers.
If the vase water is visibly cloudy, it’s time to change the water.
Use nourishing flower food
Be sure to add the sachet of liquid flower food that came with your bouquet to the water in your vase straight away.
By adding more flower food every time you change the water, you can increase the bouquet’s lifespan.
If you can’t get your hands on proper flower food, don’t worry.
It’s easy to make a homemade solution by adding two tablespoons of sugar and two tablespoons of white vinegar to one litre of lukewarm water.
Cutting off wilting foliage gives new buds space to bloom, leading to a thriving bouquet that’s even bigger and more beautiful
If you pick up a pack of granulated sugar (£1.09) and distilled white vinegar (35p) from Tesco, it’ll cost no more than 5p to feed your flowers each time you replace the water in the vase.
While the sugar provides energy to nourish the flowers, the white vinegar lowers the water’s pH, which improves water absorption and helps to remove bacteria thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
Check on your flowers often and handle them with care
By regularly checking on your flowers and removing any wilting petals, you can ensure your bouquet stays looking healthy, while also preventing the spread of bacteria in the vase water.
Cutting off wilting foliage also gives new buds space to bloom, leading to a thriving bouquet that’s even bigger, and more beautiful.
Though some flower varieties are highly durable, be gentle when handling your bouquet. Avoid crushing or squeezing the stems as you could cut off water uptake to the plant.
Petals are particularly delicate – treat them with care to prevent any damage and keep them looking their best.