Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show the love with a beautiful bouquet, with an estimated 250 million stems sold worldwide each year.
While a thoughtful floral gift is sure to brighten your loved one’s day, keeping them fresh for as long as possible can be a challenge.
Samantha Walker, floral product developer at Marks and Spencer, has shared one expert tip that could help to prolong the life of your flowers.
She said: “Whether you’re giving a floral gift to show your love, or receiving a bunch of flowers as a token of someone’s love for you, you want the flowers to look amazing for as long as possible.”
The expert reminds us that at this time of year especially, the heating conditions in our homes in February can be unfavourable for cut flowers.
Flowers wilt in hot conditions so the best way to keep them looking fresh is to find the perfect temperature to display them in.
The expert said: “Every room has heat spots. These are important to consider when choosing where to display your bouquet. Of course, avoid spots near radiators or fireplaces.”
She also warns against placing them in the most obvious spots in the home, adding: “While windowsills are often the coolest area of the room, be careful which sill you choose. Even in winter, the concentrated sun in south-facing windows can be too strong for cut flowers.
“Remember also the temperature in the kitchen can amp up when you’re doing lots of cooking. So, the kitchen may not be the best place to display your bouquet either.”
Another top tip about placement is to keep your beautiful blooms away from fruit.
Samantha explains: “Some fruits give off gases which can speed up the ageing process of flowers. Therefore, if you want to maximise the longevity of your arrangement, it’s a bad idea to position your flowers directly next to the fruit bowl.
“The most notorious culprits are tomatoes, apples, bananas and pears.”
Other top tips to keep you flowers fresher for longer include:
Trim stems at a 45-degree angle to maximise water intake and prevent flat spots that hinder hydration.
Cut woody stems twice making an additional 5cm vertical cut after trimming to enhance water absorption.
Use the flower food provided or make your own by mixing two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of sugar in water.
Avoid freezing cold water as this can shock the stems and lead to wilting.