There is nothing more disappointing than a beautiful bouquet that starts to droop too soon. You bring fresh flowers home, arrange them in a vase and the next morning, bam, they are already looking tired. But before you give up on, remember, wilted flowers can often be brought back to life. May is a great month for blooms but even in perfect spring weather, flowers can wilt from heat, lack of water or simply being out of water for too long after purchase. The good news is that you can revive many of them if you act fast. Here are a few simple ways to breathe life back into your bouquet.
1. Give Them A Fresh Cut
When flowers wilt, the first thing to check is the stems. If not been trimmed properly or if it has been a couple of days since they were last cut, they may not be drinking enough water. Stems can seal up over time or get blocked by bacteria, making it hard for the flowers to stay hydrated.
The fix: Cut at a sharp angle so they can soak up more water. Do this under running water or submerged in water if you can. It helps prevent air from entering the stems, which can block water flow.
2. Soak The Whole Stem (Or More)
Some flowers are just plain thirsty. If they have been out of water for a while, say during a long drive from a flower shop Salisbury NC or after sitting in a warm room, they may need a full body refresh.
The fix: Fill a clean sink or bathtub with cool water and submerge the entire flower. Soak them for 30 minutes to an hour. This works especially well for droopy roses, tulips and hydrangeas. Once they perk up, dry off the petals and place them back in a clean vase with water.
3. Boiling Water Trick For Stubborn Stems
This one sounds strange but it works wonders, especially for woody stems like roses or lilacs. Sometimes the ends of the stems are too tough and water just is not getting through.
The fix: Boil a cup of water and carefully dip the bottom two inches of the stem into the water for about 30 seconds. Then immediately place the flower into cool water. The heat helps soften the end of the stem so it can start drinking again.
4. Remove The Bad To Save The Good
If a few flowers in the bunch have wilted beyond saving, they can drag down the whole arrangement. Rotting leaves or petals can cause bacteria to grow in the water fast.
The fix: Gently remove any petals or flowers that look brown, mushy or too far gone. Strip leaves that fall below the waterline as well. This keeps the water cleaner and gives the rest of the flowers a better chance to bounce back.
5. Feed them something sweet
Even flowers from Florist Franklin NC need a little snack sometimes. Florists usually include flower food for a reason as it helps keep bacteria at bay and gives flowers the nutrients they need. But if you tossed the packet or never got one, you can make a version at home.
The fix: Mix a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops of bleach or vinegar into the vase water. The sugar gives energy and the vinegar helps keep bacteria under control. You can also squeeze in a bit of lemon juice.
6. Keep them cool and out of direct sunlight
After all your effort to revive them, do not undo it by leaving your flowers in a hot or sunny spot. Heat speeds up wilting and dries out the petals faster.
The fix: Once you have received a sweet surprise through China Grove florist then keep your flowers in a cool room, away from windows or appliances that give off heat.
Bringing flowers back from the edge is not always a sure thing but it is worth the try. Most wilted blooms just need a bit of attention and a second to rehydrate. With these easy tricks from Happy Bee Florist LLC, your flowers can keep shining a bit longer and that is always worth it.