People love cut flowers. They look good, they smell good and they brighten up a room.They can brighten any special moment and are perfect for marking special occasions. You just received a breathtaking delivery of flowers from the man you love, and now you’re probably thinking about how to make their firm petals and vibrant colors last for as long as possible. Here’s how you can make your cut flowers last much longer.

First, remove the flowers from the packaging, hold the stems underwater, and cut the stem at a 45-degree angle using a sharp knife. Cutting the flower at this angle allows the stem to have a greater surface area for water consumption. Do not use scissors to cut the stems and do not crush the stems either; this will damage the tips and block the flower’s water intake.

Next, prepare the vase and the water. Kill any bacteria or algae that formed in the vase by cleaning the inside with bleach. If your florist does not include preservatives with the flower delivery, fill the vase with lukewarm water and add a floral preservative. You can either buy preservatives from your florist or make on your own. To make your own preservatives, mix lemon with a very small amount of bleach, or a teaspoon of sugar with a few drops of bleach.

Before putting the flowers in the vase, remove all the leaves that might be submerged in the water. Leaves have the tendency to decay when submerged underwater and when these leaves rot, they poison the water and shorten the vase life of your flowers. Arrange the flowers in any way you desire, but make sure you do not overcrowd the vase. If the bouquet is too large or the arrangement seems too tight, divide them into two and place them in separate vases.

Once you’re satisfied with your floral arrangement, keep the vase in a cool spot away from direct sunlight to avoid rapid respiration. Respiration is the process wherein living organisms age. It is helpful to note that flowers generally have a higher respiration rate than most agricultural crop. The lower the temperature of the room they are placed in, the longer the flowers will last. However, if the flowers are subjected to temperatures below four degrees, their internal cells can get easily damaged and dry out the flowers.

Finally, take care of your flowers every day and remove wilted flowers so they do not contaminate the rest. It is recommended that you change the water daily but if you are too busy to do so, replacing the water every two or three days is fine. Make sure you add the preservative each time you change the water. You can also re-cut the stem for improved water absorption.

More often than not flowers are viewed as temperamental gifts. Ephemeral in their nature, it’s beauty wilts so fast, that they are only appreciated in fleeting moments, especially if they are not taken with adequate care and attention. Flowers are often just stored in a water filled vase and then, at one, or at most two weeks, they begin to wilt and loose their splendor. Why not make your stunning red rose bouquet last longer than a week after you have been gifted with them? You can try these simple steps to help preserve fresh cut flowers.

Warm, not cold water can do wonders. After receiving your beautiful bouquet of flowers, instantly arrange and pour warm water inside your vase. This would likely hasten the aging of your flowers and will keep the flowers’ shape longer. Also, do try to put the flowers in a well-ventilated room and away from ethylene producing products, as this gas would permeate and promote aging.

Soda and bleach equals longer flower power. Believe it or not, your regular soda and bleach can be very beneficial for flower preservation purposes. Past research had confirmed that soda provides substantial energy for the fresh cut flowers, while the bleach act as bacteria repellent. These two ingredients would be more than adequate, as bacteria would start appearing and affecting your fresh cut flowers as early as three hours of immersion of it in water. The bleach would help keep the stems from bending and steadily help in keeping the growth of the flowers.

Here’s a list of the things you’ll need to have a longer lasting flower arrangement: 1 cup 7-Up, 1/2 teaspoon household bleach, 1 cup water. Now you can enjoy the smell and sight of your gorgeous flower bouquets for a longer period of time.