Expert Corner: 6 Easy Tips To Keep Flowers Fresh For Longer

Choose fresh flowers: Look for flowers with strong stems and firm petals that are not wilted or brown.

Cut stems at an angle: 45 degrees, this creates more surface area for water intake, allowing the flowers to stay hydrated for a longer period of time.

Remove leaves: Take off all foliage that will be below the waterline in the vase. This helps keep bacteria from growing.

Use a clean vase and fresh water: Rinse the vase thoroughly with soap and warm water to remove any bacteria that could shorten the lifespan of your flowers.

Change the water regularly: Replace the water every few days and add flower food if available. If the water appears cloudy, change it immediately.

Keep flowers away from heat and direct sunlight: Heat and direct sunlight will speed up the ageing process of the flowers leading to their quick decay.

Re-cut stems: Every once in a while, remove a few centimetres or 1 to 2 inches of each stem to keep flowers fresh and hydrated.

Add Gangajal: It has antibacterial properties and has always worked for us.

Refrigerate: If your flowers are particularly delicate, consider refrigerating them overnight to prolong their lifespan, then you can pop them back on your table for when the guests arrive.

Note: Flowers and fans are not friends.

These beautiful and unique king proteas that originate from South Africa are easily available in India.

To keep these blooms happy and living longer, you’ll want to:

- Remove the bottom leaves. The stem is very strong so you’ll need a sharp pair of scissors or a cutter to cut the stem on a 45 degree angle up towards the flower.

- Proteas like to drink a lot of water, so my tip if you want them to last 10 to 14 days is to trim the stems and change the water regularly. That’s why It's always smart to start off by keeping them long. They’ll shorten up as we cut them throughout the week.

- Place a bit of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of sugar and stir in your water to feed the flowers and reduce bacteria growth.

- Also make sure your vase is sturdy because these flowers are notorious for falling over.

Pro-Tip: If black spots appear on the leaves, it means they are in need of some sun or vitamin D. These flowers like bright light, so find a nice sunny spot!

Prepare to look a little crazy, but it’s well worth it to keep your flowers happy. Here’s what to do:

- Grab a vase of freshwater and add a dash of vinegar, a squeeze of lemon and a tablespoon of sugar and stir it together. This makes for a perfect fresh flowers cocktail.

- Take your sunflower, and cut the base at an angle, and then up the center. This allows the flower to drink much more water.

- Place the fresh cut flower in boiling water for 10 seconds. This seals any flowers' wax, and allows the hot water to travel through the flower stem quicker.

Now, sunflower stems can be very thick, making it difficult to cut with scissors or cutters. I’d recommend using a kitchen knife as it makes it much easier. Don't forget to be careful!

Bonus tips:

- Cut your flowers at different heights to make the arrangement more interesting.

- Be sure to leave a little bit more stem than you’d like so you can trim the flowers every few days to allow them to drink more water.

- Change out your water every two to three days and position out of direct sunlight. 

Now even though roses are probably the most basic flowers out there, people tend to get them so wrong when trying to make them last longer. Here's what you can do.

- Remove all those leaves.

- Add some sugar to your freshwater.

- Add a dash of vodka, yes, vodka, because it acts as an antibacterial agent in the water and preserves your flowers so they last way longer. Also Gangajal can be used. 

- Place the freshly cut stems in some boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds — this opens up the stems, so they can drink quicker.

Keep your tulips fresher for longer with these four tips:

- Remove the leaves

- Trim the ends by 3 to 5 centimetres

- Poke a small hole just under the flower (stops it from bending over time)

- Change your cold water every two to three days and you are good to go!

Your tulips should last anywhere from seven to 12 days. Be sure to store in a cool, shaded spot! 

Here's how you can keep your hydrangeas looking fresh for longer: 

- Warm water has less oxygen in it, so it gets up the stem way quicker. Mix in a small amount of lemon, vodka and sugar to feed the flowers and stop bacteria from growing.

- A good tip to get the right height for your flowers is to flip the bunch upside down next to the vase and measure up to where you’d like the flowers to sit. Snip.

- Cut each stem at a 45 degree angle and up vertically. Be sure to do your water mixture first prior to cutting your stems, so they don’t dry out.

- Hydrangea flowers are the only flowers that drink through the petals, so grab a spray bottle full of water and spritz the petals to give them an extra drink. Alternatively, you can soak the flowers overnight in a bowl of water.

- I like to arrange my hydrangea flowers in a low round vase because they look cute. Alternatively, you can have really long stems in a tall, clear glass vase, and the cone-shaped hydrangeas are just another level!