Fresh flowers are my favorite decor element in a room.
I have become such a plant mom over recent years! From succulents and greenery, to fresh flowers in a vase, nearly every room of our house has a plant to complete it. I just love the life it brings to a space! There’s just one problem, though, specifically with flowers: Keeping them fresh can be tricky! It often seems that after even just a day, they begin to look wilted and blah. Ever wonder the best ways on how to keep flowers fresh, specifically when they’re in a vase? I know I have!
So, I took it to Instagram and crowd-sourced this question. What I got back was a host of amazing advice from you all, on tactics and strategies you’ve found that have worked for you. I’m excited to share some of those tips today – you guys are always so smart and insightful!
How To Keep Flowers Fresh In A Vase: 7 Proven Tips + Tricks From Readers
Remove leaves submerged in water
With most flower stems, there will inevitably be leaves that are submerged in water when you place the stem in the vase. Simply remove the leaves for longer-lasting blooms.
Don’t forget to cut the stems
Such an important step! Cutting the stem on an angle helps for the flower to take in water better. It’s recommended to cut 1-2 inches, or cut however much you need for the stem to be at the desired length for the vase.
Don’t fill the vase with water
This one surprised me, but it makes a lot of sense! The reader noted that just an inch or two at the bottom – ensuring the end of the stems are submerged, of course – is great for maintenance. Then every other day, trim the stems at an angel under room temperature water and replace in the vase. This ensures you’re continually refreshing the water, and the flowers are always primly cut for water intake.
Prune, prune, prune!
AKA — remove any dead leaves or petals from the flower and stem. This allows for the flower to optimally open. Do this as you’re making your arrangement!
For tulips, place a few ice cubes in the water
Do this every day! This is a little-known trick that helps for them to live longer.
Use tape to make crosses on a case for structural support
**Multiple people noted this trick as a game-changing arrangement hack! This trick can be done with something as simple as regular scotch tape. This helps for your arrangement to remain upright and in position much longer, keeping the arrangement as a whole fresh and healthy looking.
No flower food? No problem. Use these instead.
Many suggestions were sent in on things to use as flower food in lieu of actual flower food! Top suggestions included Soda, Aspirin, and Vodka. One person even mentioned putting a coin on the bottom of the vase! (Probably the most surprising suggestion on how to keep flowers fresh, but I love it!)
See?! You guys are so insightful! Love all these tips on how to keep flowers fresh — I recently started to implement them and I definitely can attest that my arrangements have been fresh for longer.
Any other suggestions on how to keep flowers fresh in a vase? I love hearing different tips and tricks! Leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments below.
PS – Gorgeous Trader Joe’s Flower Arrangements + Grace and Josephine’s Shared Room Reveal
