Cutting the flowers
Cut the flowers at an angle of 2 cm before placing them in the vase. Don't be afraid to cut them too short; if the stems are lengthy, it will take too long for the water to be absorbed, and the flowers will die. By cutting the flowers, you create an open entrance at the bottom so that the water can be absorbed more easily.
By cutting the flowers diagonally, you get a larger surface so they can absorb more water. Otherwise, the vessels may become clogged and the flower would absorb less water. The bottom of the stem, where the flowers are cut, can best be compared to a kind of wound. If the stems are out of the water for more than a few minutes, these "wounds" will close and not absorb enough water.
It is best to cut the flowers with a sharp knife or with special blades, for example a kind of cheese slicer, with which you can cut them at an angle. Scissors are not advisable, as they press the barrels closed a little.
Do the stems get clogged? In this case, you can rinse them with fresh water and trim them again. Just clean the vase and arrange them again!
Remove any excess leaves
Most flowers grow leaves, which you remove from the stems so that when you put them in the water, they do not get into the water. Preferably even up to the height of the rim of the vase. If leaves touch the water, it is more likely that they will decay and the water will become cloudy because of the pollution and deposits will form that can also block the flowers. Bacteria multiply very easily on leaves, causing stems to rot and flowers to have a shorter life. In addition, it also looks a lot more stylish and "airier" when the vase is not completely closed.
What should vase look like?
Tall bouquets look beautiful in a tall, slender vase. Preferably use a glass vase, so you can keep a close eye on the water level. Wash the vase with soapy water before use, because bacteria from old flowers can remain in the vase and affect the new bunch.
It is best to place the flowers in a vase with lukewarm water. If the water is too warm, the stems will be damaged and the flowers will no longer come out.
Add Chlorine
Add a drop of chlorine (or biological detergent) to the water to make the flowers look longer. You probably recognize that if you throw away the flower water, an attack will remain. Chlorine kills bacteria and by adding it to the water, the vase stays clean longer, so that the flowers last longer. One drop is enough, too much chlorine will only have the opposite effect.
Sugar with it?
You often get a bag with cut flower food (here) (often a combination of bleach and glucose) that you add to the water. After refreshing you can no longer add food. Instead, a drop of chlorine bleach and a scoop of sugar will help. The sugar then serves as food for the flowers. One scoop is enough. Give it a stir after adding the sugar.
Not only sweet, but also sour such as lemon juice can be recommended.
Where to place the bouquet?
There are certain places where it is better not to place the vase with the bouquet of flowers. So it is better to avoid the draft. Draft evaporates causing flowers to hang and also heat such as in full sun or with a heater can be fatal for a bouquet. Furthermore, flowers last shorter in the vicinity of gases such as cigarette smoke and gases from ripe fruit.
Change water regularly
Refresh with new water. It is best to do this every 3 days.
If you change the water, it is also best to check the flowers. Flowers that fade a bit are best discarded and then rearranged. Make sure there a no leafs hang or floating in the water.
Not all flowers need a lot of water. Tulips, ranunculus and gerberas, for example, require little water. It is then better to top up or change the water.
Extra Tips
Make sure the packaging will be thrown a in a right disposal (plastics, or papers). Throwing away the flowers should be done at the compost.
