How to Make Your Fresh Flowers Last Longer
Simple for Beauty That Blooms a Bit Longer
There’s something so special about bringing fresh flowers into your home. Whether they’re from your garden, a sweet gift from a friend, or a spontaneous grocery store bouquet, flowers have a way of brightening up your space—and your heart.
But how do you keep them looking lovely for more than just a couple of days? Here are a few gentle, tried-and-true tips to help your blooms last as long as possible:
1. Start with a Clean Vase
It may seem simple, but starting fresh is key! Use warm, soapy water to thoroughly wash your vase before adding new flowers. Bacteria is one of the biggest culprits in shortening a bouquet’s life.
2. Trim the Stems at an Angle
Cut about an inch off the stems as soon as you bring your flowers home. Use sharp scissors or floral shears and cut at a 45-degree angle—this helps the stems absorb water better.
3. Use the Right Water Mix
Fill your vase with room temperature water and add one of these:
- A packet of floral preservative (usually included with store-bought bouquets)
- OR: A homemade mix of 1 tsp sugar + 2 tsp lemon juice + a drop of bleach
The sugar feeds the flowers, the acid balances the pH, and the bleach keeps bacteria at bay.
4. Keep Them Cool & Out of Direct Sunlight
Place your bouquet in a cool spot, away from direct sun, heat vents, or fruit (which releases ethylene gas that wilts flowers faster). Flowers prefer gentle light and cooler temps.
5. Refresh Daily or Every Other Day
Every couple of days, change the water, clean the vase, and re-trim the stems. It only takes a few minutes and makes a big difference!
Fresh flowers are a little like grace—simple, beautiful, and fleeting unless we tend to them. With just a little care, you can make the beauty last a little longer and savor the joy they bring.
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
— Luke 12:27 (NIV)
This verse is such a gentle reminder that God cares deeply about beauty—and if He tends to the wildflowers, how much more does He care for us?
With love,
Aimee
