Flower Care Guide

Some people may forget that fresh cut flowers are still living entities and can become frustrated by how short-lived a bouquet may be once they get it home. Under the right conditions, your flowers can be encouraged to last much longer.

These few simple tips will reward you with beautiful flowers for a longer vase life!

Tip #1:

Place flowers in a clean container.

A clean container that is sanitized and free of debris will keep the flowers from premature aging and the stems from getting clogged, which will result in better water intake.

Tip #2:

Trim at least a half inch off the stems before placing them in a vase and each time you change the water.

The stems of the flowers most likely dried out some during their journey to your home, exposing fresh tissue will help them be able to take up water better.  Be sure to use clean and sharp scissor or pruners for a clean cut. After a few days, gather the bouquet in your hand and lift out of the vase. Rinse the vase, refill with clean water and food, trim 1-2” off the bouquet stems, remove any old blooms, spray the ends of the stems off with water if needed, and replace bouquet in the vase.

Tip #3: 

 Don't be afraid to fill the container up with water!

These fresh flowers get pretty thirsty! This is especially true for the first couple of days. Upon arrival, place flowers in a full vase of water. Be sure to check water level daily, especially the first two days. Our flowers are cut and delivered very fresh, therefore still very much alive and thirsty! For large formal arrangements, carefully tip the vase over a sink to let the water drain without disturbing the design. Then re-fill the vase by gently pouring water in at the top of the flowers.

Tip #4:

Strip any foliage that will sit below the water line.

Foliage sitting in the water will rot and make the flowers in turn rot. Plus, it makes the water icky, smelly and causes bacteria growth. Keeping the water foliage-free will keep the water clear and fresher longer.

Tip #5:

Keep flowers away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

The sunlight will signal the flowers to further mature resulting in less of a vase life. Instead, keep your cut flowers in a cool dark spot if you would like them to last as long as possible.

Tip #6:

Don't place flowers near ripening fruit or vegetables, especially bananas or apples.

The release of ethylene from the fruits/veggies can affect the flowers and cause them to wilt and wither away much faster. Here’s the science behind it: in the plant world, flowers are the precursor of fruit. Once a flower is pollinated, it begins to develop into a fruit so it can form seeds and start the plant life cycle over again. Ethylene is the gaseous hormone in the plant that induces that flower to drop its petals and become a fruit. As the fruit matures, it continues to give off ethylene. When you sit your vase of flowers next to ripening fruit, you’re exposing them to this gas, they will decide they’d better drop their petals the way Mother Nature intended.

Tip #7:

Refresh water often!

Give them fresh water at least every 2-3 days. Some flowers are known to dump more debris than others and are more sensitive to the polluted water. We call this group of flowers the dirty dozen. At the top of the dirty dozen list are zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, daffodils, and dahlias. For these “dirty flowers” we recommend changing the water daily.

Tip #8:

Use flower food and preservative.

Homegrown flowers drink lots of water and benefit from having food to live longer and look better. Flower food provides nutrition to keep flowers colored up and to continue opening, a biocide to help prevent bacteria from developing, and a ph balancer that helps to prevent air bubbles that result in clogged stems.

We will provide flower food packets with the bouquets, but the commercial flower food is not suited for all flowers.  Some varieties we grow simply do not like the commercial flower food (we're looking at you zinnias and sunflowers!) You can also make your own flower food by adding about 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of bleach to your vase before adding a quart of warm water.

Tip #9:

After you throw out your last arrangement, be sure to wash the vase/container very thoroughly in hot soapy water or, better yet, in your dishwasher.

Bacteria build up in dirty vases and do not go away just because the vase dries out. As soon as you add water again, the vase will once again be full of bacteria and your new bouquet will be subjected to the same bacteria that killed the last bouquet. Give your flowers a fresh clean environment free of bacteria and they will last much longer.

Tip #10:

Enjoy!

These fresh flowers and foliage are lovingly grown for your enjoyment! Take in all their intoxicating scents and simply enjoy their natural beauty and movement!

Please note that all of the flowers grown on our farm receive a pre-treatment to ensure our customers get the cleanest flower stems possible. The harvest buckets include a chlorine-based tablet that kills bacteria that is a result of the stems dumping debris into the water. This debris immediately begins the cycle of bacteria growth.

Warning: Our cut flowers are not for human or pet consumption. We grow many flowers that are toxic to humans and pets alike, therefore keep out of reach of young children and pets. After handling cut flowers, be sure to wash hands thoroughly. Do not touch your face/eyes or intake food or beverage before washing hands. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend wearing gloves when handling the flowers.

Homegrown vs imported flowers: Flowers harvested from a home garden last longer than their counterparts, the imported flower. 80% of flowers sold in the USA ($7 billion annually) are imports and most are grown in South America. These flowers go through the “retail cycle” before they land in your florist shop or supermarket.

This retail cycle is what it takes to get the flowers from where they are grown to your tabletop. These imported flowers are well over a week old when they finally reach you and they have been out of water a good deal of that time. They have practically exhausted their vase life before they even get into a vase!

Flowers grown in your garden or on a local flower farm naturally have a longer vase life by avoiding the long trip to the table. Grow your own or buy from a local flower farmer!