May 8, 2008

Information on Caring for Flowers

by John Bear

Everyone of us love receiving flowers whether fresh flowers or silk flower. One of the attractions of flowers is their fleeting beauty that makes them great gifts. They are also a great way to bring warmth, joy and happiness. The only problem about fresh flowers is that they never seem to last and we usually want the blooms to last as long as possible.

Fortunately, there are many little things that you can do to lengthen the life span of the beautiful floral design your flower arrangements, floral bouquet and even wedding flowers and wedding flower bouquet. You should using proper flower care routines to keep the flowers from dying awfully fast and to even prolong their life span.

Prepare the vase for your flowers by making sure that it is very clean. Bacteria can kill the flowers by blocking the stems, preventing the flowers from taking on water. You should use a vase that is in proportion to the size and amount of flowers that you have ordered. Using an inappropriate vase could create even more water loss that you are not aware of.

Once the stems of flowers have been cut, you have removed their life support system, so the flowers should be placed in the container with water as soon as possible. You should use lukewarm water in your vase because lukewarm water has lower oxygen levels that will help the stem to intake water and will in turn prompt the flowers to open faster. There is also a need to use a flower preservative or floral food in the water because it helps develop the buds to open and it could kill harmful bugs and dirt.

Use a sharp knife or cutter in cutting the stems; scissors can crush the ends of the stems. You should cut the stems off at an angle about 3cm from the bottom underwater. Cutting at an angle opens up the stem and it provides a greater surface area flower can take on water. It also prevents the stem from becoming sealed against the bottom of the vase. An air bubble that gets into the veins in the stem of the flower would prevent it from getting water and nutrients; to prevent this, there is a need to cut the stems underwater.

Make certain that only the flower's stem is under water. Do not allow leaves to be under the water level since that could cause them to rot. Also, never overcrowd the flowers; you should allow enough air to circulate between each flower.

You should remember to never place flowers in bright or overheated areas in your home. Strong heat and sunlight can cause an excess water loss and breed bacteria. You should also remove the dead leaves immediately, as they will breed bacteria, which will damage your flower. Always replace the water in the container after 2-3 days and always remember to re-cut the stem of the flowers underwater.

When you receive flowers or order flowers for someone or for your home in your favorite flower shop, or flower delivery services online, remember these tips so that your flowers will last longer than ever before so you can enjoy the warmth and beauty of nature in your home. For further information, consult the local flower shop or florist in your locale.

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