Gardening Tips

Caring for Your Cut Flowers

Tips provided by Beth Fausey Scheckelhoff, OSU Extension ABE Center

A famous American botanist once said that "Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul". Flowers are always a welcome gesture to celebrate special occasions and holidays, especially Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and those many just-because-days. Whether you purchase long stem roses, fresh-cut tulips, fragrant orchids, or mixed bouquets, the following tips will help prolong the life - and your enjoyment - of your cut flower arrangements!

• Cut flowers can be purchased as prepared arrangements in vases or other containers or as loosely bunched flowers. If your arrangement does not come in a vase of water, you will need to select a clean, suitable container.
• Fill the container with cool water and add a standard floral preservative provided by the florist or retailer. Floral preservative packets are commonly included with bouquets and flower arrangements, and it is a good idea to request additional packets to use as you enjoy your arrangement in the coming days and weeks. Floral preservatives provide carbohydrates for the flowers and also prevent microbial growth that can prevent water uptake and reduce their life.
• Unwrap the flowers from their packaging and remove leaves or foliage from stems that will be submerged in water. Foliage that is submerged in water will decay and reduce the life of your arrangement.
• Cut the stems diagonally with a sharp knife. Scissors, especially dull scissors, will crush the stems and prevent them from taking up water.
• Place the stems in the water ensuring that the bottoms of all stems are adequately submerged.
• Place the arrangement out of direct sunlight and away from temperature extremes, air vents and drafts, and ripening fruits and vegetables. Ripening fruits and vegetables give off ethylene, a plant hormone that promotes ripening and flower senescence - and will thus decrease flower longevity.
• Empty the container of water every two to three days, clean thoroughly and add fresh water and additional floral preservative.
• Periodically check the arrangement for wilted and faded flowers, and remove them promptly.

Use the Maumee Valley Growers “Info Search” (in the menu to the left) to find a grower that offers flowers.