It doesn’t take long before your beautiful bouquet starts to wilt, but flower expert Elise Harlock has shared a nifty trick that will extend the lifespan of your floral display
Nothing brightens up your home quite like a blossoming bouquet of beautiful flowers, but many Brits struggle to preserve the freshness of their floral display.
Whether you’ve received a bright birthday bouquet or romantic red roses, most cut flowers can last anywhere from seven to 12-days if cared for properly. Fortunately, flower expert Elise Harlock has revealed the kitchen cupboard essential that will “significantly” prolong the vibrancy of your favourite posy.
“Using apple slices in the water of your vase can help cut flowers last longer,” revealed the planting guru from Prestige Flowers. “The natural sugars and acids in the apple provide nutrients to the flowers, helping to keep them fresh for up to several weeks.”
She continued: “Begin by slicing a fresh apple into thin wedges. Then, place the slices at the bottom of a clean vase filled with room temperature water.” The apple slices act as a natural source of food for the flowers, providing essential nutrients that they would otherwise lack once cut from their roots, noted Elise.
She continued: “Finally, arrange your cut flowers as usual, ensuring their stems are submerged in the water alongside the apple slices.” The helpful hack is most effective with flowers that boast woody stems, such as roses, hydrangeas, and lilacs.
“These types of flowers benefit from the nutrients provided by the apple slices, helping them to stay hydrated and vibrant for an extended period,” she said. The science behind this hack lies in the apple’s ability to release ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that promotes ripening.
In this case, the ethylene gas released by the apple slices can help delay the wilting process in cut flowers, keeping them looking fresh and lively for days longer than usual. Elisa highlighted the importance of changing the water and apple slices every few days to maintain optimal freshness.
“Regularly refreshing the water and replacing the apple slices ensures that the flowers continue to receive the nutrients they need to thrive,” she advised. Shoppers can pick up six apples for 69p from Aldi, working out as less than 12p each, or bag the tasty fruit for 16p each from Tesco.
Flowers will also last longer placed in a cooler room and out of direct sunlight, while open windows should be avoided as this will cause them to dehydrate more quickly. Experts at Urban Stems and ProFlowers have also suggested removing any leaves that fall below the water line daily, as this will prevent bacterial growth. This advice is particularly important in mixed bouquets which have multiple types of flowers that may have different blooming times.
