You can make the most of your sunflowers and spray rose bouquets by following a gardener’s simple trimming tips – and they won’t cost you a penny
Whether you bought them yourself or received them as a gift, flowers can make all of us feel special thanks to their ability to brighten up a room. However, there’s nothing more disappointing than noticing your bouquet wilting just mere days after placing them in a vase and on display.
Fortunately, you can get the most out of flowers by following a few simple tips – and the first step is to learn that every flower is different, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to caring for them.
The gardening expert, known on TikTok as @gardenholic0, explained that your plant’s longevity in a vase is all down to how you cut the stems, and how much water you give it.
While many of us will have heard that cutting diagonally across the stems is best, this is not true for all flowers. In fact, sunflower stems should be snipped straight across before being placed into a vase.
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When it comes to water, you will want to fill up less than half of the vase. For a life-lengthening solution, you could mix a teaspoon of sugar with two tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of vinegar to the vase water. This will keep your flowers looking “vibrant and healthy” and delays wilting, according to experts at the Coshocton Sunflower Festival.
Roses: Cut stems diagonally
You should also make sure to check the stems and water daily – and don’t be afraid to re-cut them and change the water solution if you think it needs doing. “If sunflowers begin to droop early, cut their stems short and place in warm water to give them an added boost,” the experts advised.
Spray roses, meanwhile, should be placed in a vase with a lot of water, and their stems need to be cut diagonally. Flower-delivery service Interflora explained that before arranging your roses, you should give the vase a “thorough scrub” to remove any bacteria that may be lingering from previous bouquets.
You will also want to remove any leaves on the stem that sit below the water line. This will prevent bacteria from forming and will keep your roses “looking, feeling, and smelling fresher for longer”.
The average life for spray roses is between four and 12 days, according to flower care experts FloraLife. They can also be mixed in with other flowers with any negative effects, and can also perform well as part of foam arrangements if they are hydrated enough.
When it comes to lilies, they should be given lots of water and their stems be cut straight across, and tulip stems should also have a straight cut – although they will need much less water in the vase.