If you love the look of fresh flowers in your home, it’s important to know how to keep them looking their best. No one wants flowers that wilt in days and end up looking dead and horrible – so if you want to keep your centrepiece looking like the star of the show there is one place you should never ever place them.
According to Maryam Ghani of Haute Florist, flowers should never be placed next to a fruit bowl. This is because certain fruits release ethylene as they ripen which can cause flowers to wilt faster. It can be tempting to place your flowers in a window so that your neighbours can see them too, but this is another no-no according to Maryam.
She said: “Flowers should be kept at a steady temperature – not too hot and not too cold. Keep them away from window sills or conservatories during very warm weather as the direct sunlight can cause them to wilt.”
It’s also important to make sure you keep up with the water changes, especially in warmer weather. The heat encourages bacterial growth which can clog up the stems of your flowers and cause them to die sooner.
Maryam said: “Change the water in the vase every couple of days, or more if required. Rinse the vase with warm, soapy water, dry it and fill it two-thirds of the way with room-temperature water.”
When you first place them in water, trim your stems at a 45 degree angle to encourage more absorption. After that, trim the stems a couple of centimeters when you change the water.
Maryam said: “This maximises the amount of water the stems can take in and will keep your flowers fresh and healthy for much longer.
“You should also remove any wilting flowers and leaves below the waterline to prevent the water from becoming cloudy.”
Most bouquets also come with special food to keep stems looking their absolute best, so this should always be used.
Maryam said: “Flower food contains essential nutrients to keep them well-fed and looking bright and vibrant for as long as possible.”