What is the Best Way to Care for Fresh Cut Flowers?
When caring for fresh cut flowers, diligence is key. Flowers require care and attention to ensure that they last long past the day they are brought home from the store or cut from an outdoor arrangement. Balanced, clean water and open stems are the most important factors to making fresh cut flowers last. In order to understand how to care for freshly cut flowers, it is important to understand how flowers drink. Water is transported to the flower through the stem. The stem is filled with cells that function like an automatic drinking straw that will suck water as long as they stay submerged. If the stem is pulled out of the water, the stem forms an air bubble to keep air from getting sucked in. Once this air bubble is in place, the plant can no longer suck water and must be re-cut. If cutting flowers from a home garden, choose early morning since this is when they have the most moisture in them and are most perky. Use a sharp knife, clippers or shears and cut cleanly, being sure not to
