Written by Lilli Black, florist on BloomNation and owner of Bella Calla in Denver, CO
Image by Bella Calla
We all buy flowers hoping they'll last as long as possible... and sometimes we get lucky with arrangements that look great two weeks later! But it's not all up to chance. Here are some great tips to ensuring that your flowers stay fresh longer, as well as long-lasting flower varietals that will make your job easy.
1. Keep the water CLEAN!
This is the most crucial tip. If you change the water in the arrangement daily or every other day, it will last much longer than if you let it get swampy. Bacteria is the enemy! Florists change the water in their coolers quite often, and that keeps the flowers fresher.
Forget all the aspirins, sugar, pennies, and bleach... just pull the flowers up, rinse the vase, refill and give the bottoms a fresh cut. They'll stay fresh much longer. If your arrangement is in foam, fill that container every day so they have plenty of fresh water to drink.
2. Choose long lasting blooms!
People hear long lasting and the first flower they think of (often with a sneer) is the carnation. Of course, carnations are extremely long-living blooms, but there are many high-end, trendy flowers that also last for weeks.
- Alstroemeria: Also known as Peruvian lily. These blooms come in tons of color palettes, from fall to spring to winter whites, and they last for a couple of weeks easily. They are unscented, so they are great on dinner tables (no more smelly flowers). Another plus? They're cheap!
Image by Bella Calla
3. Buy quality from a florist - not a grocery store!
A good rule of thumb: the fresher the flowers, the longer they'll last. Many grocery stores hold flowers in coolers and distributions centers for up to two weeks at a time, meaning those blooms are likely to fade quickly. A local florist will always have the freshest product. Though you may pay a bit more to support local business, you'll get more bang for your buck with fresher, longer-lasting flowers that will make you smile for weeks!